CD20 is a human B-lymphocyte surface molecule that spans the membrane four times and is expressed on both normal and malignant cells. The CD20 antigen displays a unique expression pattern among hematopoietic cells - it is present on human pre B-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes at all stages of maturation (except for plasma cells). Low CD20 antigen expression levels have been detected on normal T-lymphocytes. It functions as a B-cell activation receptor and B-lymphocyte development and differentiation agent, presumably through modulating intracellular calcium levels. The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) rituximab (RTX) was the first chimeric mAb approved for therapy.
Western Blot: CD20 Antibody
Expression and biochemistry studies with the CD20 antibody from Uchida's lab at Duke were performed to define a mouse animal model for studying in vivo CD20 function to test potential targets for anti-CD20 immunotherapy (1). A paper discussing mechanisms of action as well as resistance to rituximab cites use of the CD20 antibody (2). More detailed rituximab resistance studies from Henry et al employed the CD20 antibody to analyze alternative CD20 transcripts that encode a newly identified DeltaCD20 protein that may play an important role in resistance (3). A Czech group examined the role of the adaptor protein Lck-interacting molecule (LIME) in CD4 and CD8 signaling through CD20 antibody immunoblotting (4). Additionally, the CD20 antibody allowed Berzi’s lab to probe the role of brain-derived growth factor (BDNF) and its associated receptors in determining thymus cell fate (5). Their work indicates that thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and immune cells are both the source and target for BDNF, and that BDNF expression is coordinated in germinal centers.
Novus Biologicals offers CD20 reagents for your research needs including:
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