title: Enhanced expression of CD20 in human tumor B cells is controlled through ERK-dependent mechanisms.
abstract: Rituximab, a chimeric Ab directed against CD20, induces apoptosis in targeted cells. Although the majority of B cell malignancies express the CD20 Ag, only approximately 50% of patients will respond to single-agent rituximab. The available data suggest that a decreased CD20 expression could account for the lack of response observed in some patients treated with rituximab. Despite the potential critical role of CD20 in the biology of B cell malignancies, the mechanisms controlling its expression are poorly understood. We evaluated the effect of the immune modulator agent bryostatin-1 on the expression of CD20 in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells. Using the B cell lines, DB and RAMOS, as well as tumor cells derived from a chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient, we demonstrated that bryostatin-1 enhanced the expression of both CD20 mRNA and protein. The enhanced expression of CD20 was associated with increased transcriptional activity of the CD20 gene, whereas the stability of CD20 mRNA was not affected. The effect of bryostatin-1 on CD20 expression in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells was mediated through the MAPK kinase/ERK signal transduction pathway and involved protein kinase C, but was independent of p38 MAPK and was insensitive to dexamethasone. Cells pretreated with bryostatin-1 were more susceptible to the proapoptotic effect of anti-CD20 Ab. Overall, these data demonstrate for the first time that ERK phosphorylation is required for the up-regulated expression of CD20 on B cell malignancies. The findings also suggest that bryostatin-1 and rituximab could be a valuable combined therapy for B cell malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology-Oncology, Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wojciechowski
authors.forename: Huifen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dell'Agnola
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espinoza-Delgado
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D054713:Bryostatins; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054713:Bryostatins; D018942:Macrolides; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C046785:bryostatin 1; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003513:Cycloheximide; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3