Regulation of CD20 in rituximab-resistant cell lines and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this research was to further investigate the contribution of CD20 antigen expression to rituximab activity and define the mechanisms responsible for CD20 downregulation in rituximab-resistant cell lines (RRCL).


METHODS
Rituximab-sensitive cell lines, RRCL, and primary neoplastic B cells were evaluated by chromium-51 release assays, ImageStream image analysis, immunohistochemical staining, flow cytometric analysis, CD20 knockdown, promoter activity, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis of CD20 promoter, and CD20 plasmid transfection experiments to identify mechanisms associated with CD20 regulation in RRCL.


RESULTS
RRCL exhibited a gradual loss of CD20 surface expression with repeated exposure to rituximab. We identified a CD20 antigen surface threshold level required for effective rituximab-associated complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC). However, a direct correlation between CD20 surface expression and rituximab-CMC was observed only in rituximab-sensitive cell lines. CD20 promoter activity was decreased in RRCL. Detailed analysis of various CD20 promoter fragments suggested a lack of positive regulatory factors in RRCL. ChIP analysis showed reduced binding of several key positive regulatory proteins on CD20 promoter in RRCL. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) induced higher CD20 promoter activity and CD20 expression but modestly improved rituximab activity in RRCL and in primary B-cell lymphoma cells. Forced CD20 expression restored cytoplasmic but not surface CD20, suggesting the existence of a defect in CD20 protein transport in RRCL.


CONCLUSIONS
We identified several mechanisms that alter CD20 expression in RRCL and showed that, whereas CD20 expression is important for rituximab activity, additional factors likely contribute to rituximab sensitivity in B-cell lymphoma.
Department of Immunology and Medical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, NY 14263, USA.
Ping-Chiao
PC
Tsai
Francisco J
FJ
Hernandez-Ilizaliturri
Naveen
N
Bangia
Scott H
SH
Olejniczak
Myron S
MS
Czuczman
D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D000069283:Rituximab
D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; D000069283:Rituximab