Indeed, culturing CLL cells with ECs in vitro increases the levels of anti-apoptotic proteins, such as B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-extra-large (Bcl-xL), and myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein-1 (Mcl-1), as well as CD38 and CD49d, in a nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-dependent manner [104]. The gene discussed is CD38; the disease is B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.