CD20 (B Cell) [L26]

CD20 is a transmembrane phosphprotein which functions as a calcium-permeable cation channel involved in B cell activation, proliferation and differentiation. It is expressed on both normal and malignant B cells. The expression of CD20 is observed in all mature B lymphocytes but lost in terminal differentiated plasma cells. CD20 is one of the most important markers for B cell. It labels almost all mature B cell lymphoma, half of lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia and Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin’s disease. It has also been used to monitor down regulation of CD20 in patient treated with Rituximab for B cell lymphoma.