PMA mimicks diacylglycerol and is therefore a direct activator of protein kinase C. PMA can induce activation and differentiation of CLL cells into IgM-secreting plasma cells, as reviewed by [46], and it is commonly used in conjunction with the calcium ionophore ionomycin to induce activation and proliferation of normal B cells [47, 48]. This evidence concerns the gene CD40LG and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.