CD38 has been identified as a transmembrane receptor that triggers proliferation and immune responses in lymphocytes and is used as a malignancy or differentiation marker in leukaemia or HIV infection. CD38 is also present in many tissues other than haematopoietic cells, including the brain and pancreas. It can catalyse the formation of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) by ADP-ribosyl cyclase from NAD1 and NAD phosphate. cADPR and NAADP mobilize Ca21 from ryanodine-sensitive intracellular Ca21 stores in the endoplasmic reticulum or other pools located in lysosomes or secretory granules, and thus act as second messengers.