CD39, also known as ENTPD1, belongs to the GDA1/CD39 NTPase family. It is expressed primarily on activated lymphoid cells and can also be detected in endothelial tissues. The vascular isoform and the placental isoform II are present in both placenta and umbilical vein, whereas placental isoform I is present in placenta only. CD39 can hydrolyze both nucleoside triphosphates and diphosphates. It is the dominant ecto nucleotidase of vascular and placental trophoblastic tissues and appears to modulate the functional expression of type 2 purinergic (P2) G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). CD39 transgenic mice exhibit impaired platelet aggregation, prolonged bleeding times, and resistance to systemic thromboembolism. There is a correlation between ATP hydrolysis and triglycerides in patients with chronic heart disease, suggesting a relationship between ATP diphosphohydrolase and thrombogenesis. In the nervous system, CD39 could hydrolyze ATP and other nucleotides to regulate purinergic neurotransmission.
