title: CD20 antibody primes B lymphocytes for type I interferon production.
abstract: CD20 is a B cell surface marker that is expressed in various stages in B lymphocytes and certain lymphomas. Clinical administration of CD20 antibody, such as rituximab, is used widely to treat human B-cell lymphomas and other diseases. However, CD20 antibody failed to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). The reason for the failure is currently unknown. Type I interferons (IFN) are a major component for the host innate immunity, and a key pathogenic factor in lupus. We found that CD20 antibody potentiated human B cells for its production of IFNs in vitro. This function was specific to CD20-expressing cells and the potentiation function seems to be instant. In addition, ectopic expression of CD20 in non-B-lymphocytes increased the IFN promoter reporter activities. Because IFNs are a key pathogenic factor in lupus, our data suggest that, in the presence of virus infection, the CD20-antibody-mediated enhancement of IFN production might be related to its failure in lupus treatments. This work may provide new insights for CD20-Ab therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Staedman
authors.forename: Luwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000276:immunology*; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000069283:Rituximab; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D007370:Interferon Type I; D000069283:Rituximab