SLAMF7
Overview
SLAMF7 (Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family member 7; also CD319, CS1, CRACC) is a cell surface glycoprotein expressed on plasma cells and, notably, on DN2 and aNAV B cells. It is already an approved therapeutic target in multiple myeloma (elotuzumab). Its expression on DN2/aNAV cells but not on resting naive or conventional memory B cells makes it a candidate for selective therapeutic targeting of ABC/DN2 populations.
Key Points from Literature
- Upregulated on DN2 and aNAV: SLAMF7 is expressed on DN2 and aNAV B cells but not on other B cell subsets (resting naive, switched memory, DN1). It is typically a plasma cell marker, and its upregulation on DN2/aNAV cells is consistent with their pre-plasmablast identity (see Jenks2018 - DN2 B Cells and EF Pathway in SLE, RNA-seq).
- Part of the extended DN2/aNAV phenotype: The full shared phenotype of aNAV and DN2 cells includes SLAMF7⁺ alongside CD27⁻, CD21lo, CXCR5⁻, CD11c⁺⁺, T-bet⁺⁺, FcRL5⁺ (see Sanz2025 - Human Atypical B Cells Overview, review).
- Therapeutic target candidate: SLAMF7 is one of two preferred targets (alongside FCRL5) for selective ABC/DN2 depletion within the B cell compartment. Elotuzumab (anti-SLAMF7) is already FDA-approved for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, providing a clinically validated platform for repurposing in autoimmunity (see Sanz2025 - Human Atypical B Cells Overview, review).
- Chromatin accessibility evidence: In SWEF-deficient lupus mice, ABC chromatin shows enhanced accessibility in areas enriched for T-bet, AP-1, and IRF4 motifs — the same motifs enriched in human SLE DN2 cells. SLAMF7 upregulation on DN2/aNAV is part of this coordinated epigenetic programme (see Sanz2025 - Human Atypical B Cells Overview).
Contradictions & Debates
None documented in current wiki sources.
Related Pages
DN2 B Cell, Activated Naive B Cell, FCRL5, Plasmablast, Extrafollicular Response