title: Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies: beyond B-cells.
abstract: Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), employed in treating CD20⁺ lymphomas and autoimmune diseases, appear to have broader functions than just eradicating malignant B-cells and decreasing autoantibody production. Rituximab-induced T-cell inactivation, reported both in-vitro and in-vivo, may contribute to the increased risk of T-cell-dependent infections, observed in patients receiving this therapy. T-cell polarization into a suppressive phenotype, often observed in patients receiving rituximab for autoimmune disorders, was reported to be associated with prolonged remissions. Elimination of B-cells serving as antigen-presenting cells, thereby causing impaired T-cell activation, could play a significant role in induction of these changes. Direct binding of rituximab to a CD20dim T-cell population, inducing its depletion, may contribute to the decreased T-cell activation following rituximab therapy. Further investigation of the complex network through which rituximab and new anti-CD20 MoAbs act, would advance the employment of these agents in different clinical settings.
authors: Department of Hematology & Bone Marrow Transplantation, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel. irit_avivi@hotmail.com
authors: Irit
authors: I
authors: Avivi
authors: Dina
authors: D
authors: Stroopinsky
authors: Tamar
authors: T
authors: Katz
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000069283:Rituximab; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs); Autoimmune diseases; B-cells; Lymphoma; Rituximab; T-cells