CD20

Marker for: B cells; CD20 is not expressed on plasma cells; in low density also on T cells, Sternberg-Reed cells. CD20 is helpful in the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, furthermore in ALL, B-cell CLL, hairy cell leukemia and Burkitt's lymphoma.

Structure: Membrane protein (isoforms 33, 35, 37 kDa)

Note: CD20 is involved in B cell development, activation and differentiation. Along with CD79a, it is considered the best B cell marker.

Application: FACS, IHC (P), IF

(see also below) Cluster of differentiation

The CD20 protein is encoded by the MS4A1 gene. It belongs to a superordinate protein family whose members share common structural features and similar intron/exon splice boundaries, and have a unique expression pattern in hematopoietic cells and non-lymphoid tissues.

The CD20 protein is a B lymphocyte-specific membrane protein that plays a role in the development and differentiation of B cells into plasma cells. It is also used in this capacity for diagnostic purposes. CD20 plays a role in the regulation of cellular calcium influx required for B lymphocyte development, differentiation, and activation (Tedder TF et al 1985). Here, it functions as a component of a store-operated calcium (SOC) channel that promotes calcium influx following activation by the B cell receptor/BCR (Polyak MJ et al 2008).

1. Hantschke M et al (2016) Immunohistological techniques. In: L. Cerroni et al. Histopathology of the skin. Springer Verlag Berlin-Heidelberg pp 26-33.
2. Pavlasova G et al. (2020) The regulation and function of CD20: an "enigma" of B-cell biology and targeted therapy. Haematologica 105:1494-1506.
3. Polyak MJ et al (2008) CD20 homo-oligomers physically associate with the B cell antigen receptor. Dissociation upon receptor engagement and recruitment of phosphoproteins and calmodulin-binding proteins. J Biol Chem 283:18545-1852.
4. Tedder TF et al (1985) The B cell surface molecule B1 is functionally linked with B cell activation and differentiation. J Immunol 135:973-979. Li H et al (2003) Store-operated cation entry mediated by CD20 in membrane rafts. J Biol Chem 278:42427-4234;