BAD-LAMP is a novel biomarker of nonactivated human plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Abstract

The brain and dendritic cell (BAD) - associated lysosome-associated membrane protein (LAMP) - like molecule (BAD-LAMP, c20orf103, UNC-46) is a newly identified member of the family of LAMPs. BAD-LAMP expression in the mouse is confined to neurons. We demonstrate here that in humans, BAD-LAMP can specifically be found in the type I IFNproducing plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Human BAD-LAMP is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) of freshly isolated CD123+ pDCs and is rapidly lost upon activation by unmethylated cytosinephosphate-guanine (CpG) oligonucleotides. The restricted pattern of BADLAMP expression allows for the rapid identification of normal and leukemic human pDCs in tissues and blood. © 2011 by The American Society of Hematology.