CD20 Antibody Primes B Lymphocytes for Type I Interferon
Production |
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| Authors: | Dongsheng Xu Andrew Staedman Luwen Zhang |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska,
United States of America.; 2. Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska,
United States of America.; University of Illinois at Chicago, United States of
America, |
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| 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. |
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