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Updated: May 8, 2026

Preparation of CD4+ T Cells for Analysis of GD3 and GD2 Ganglioside Membrane Expression by Microscopy
Published on: November 8, 2016
Abnormal expression of CD20 on IgG4 plasma cells associated with IgG4-related lymphadenopathy
Kate E Grimm1, Antony Bakke, Dennis P O'Malley
1Department of Pathology, Clarient/GE Healthcare, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, USA. kgrimm@clarientinc.com
Context:
Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is a recently described entity that presents as mass-forming lesions in soft tissue, exocrine glands, and in lymph nodes as IgG4-related lymphadenopathy. The underlying pathologic mechanism of IgG4-related disease is unclear; however, rituximab (an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) has been shown to have clinical efficacy.
Objective:
To look for the presence or absence of CD20 on the IgG4-expressing plasma cells in IgG4-related lymphadenopathy.
Design:
Twelve flow cytometry cases were identified through a retrospective review from the authors' institutions files. Cases were selected by the presence of a lymph node biopsy specimen with increased IgG4 plasma cells by immunohistochemistry and a histologic diagnosis compatible with IgG4-related lymphadenopathy.
Results:
We report dim CD20 expression on plasma cells in all cases for which a plasma cell population was clearly identified by flow cytometry. These cases were from patients with lymph node biopsy specimens that met published criteria for IgG4-related lymphadenopathy.
Conclusions:
This finding may be one potential explanation for the clinical efficacy of rituximab in IgG4-related disease.
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