CD79A

CD79A encodes the Ig-alpha protein of the B-cell antigen receptor, that also includes Ig-beta protein, surface immunoglobulin.

Expression in normal cells

 expressed early in B-cell differentiation (often positive when mature B-cell markers are negative)
 plasma cells
 human thymus and thymoma

• low-level expression of CD79a is common in thymocytes and thymoma-associated lymphocytes. (12115880)
• CD79a is expressed weakly and transiently in immature T-lineage cells. (12115880)

Expression in tumors

 acute lymphoblastic leukemia

• precursor T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (12115880)
  • CD79a-positive neoplastic cells exhibite a phenotype and genotype characteristic of an early stage of T cell differentiation.

 CD20-negative B-cell proliferations

• post-rituximab CD20-negative PTLDs (CD20- PTLDs)
• CD20- small B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders

 B cell lymphomas

• more consistently preserved in infarcted lymphomas than CD20

 lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
 classic Hodgkin lymphoma