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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Generation of Human CD40-activated B cells
Published on: October 17, 2009
CD20 expression in normal canine B cells and in canine non-Hodgkin lymphoma
C M Jubala1, J W Wojcieszyn, V E O Valli
1Integrated Department of Immunology, AMC Cancer Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 1600 Pierce Street, 2-Diamond Research Building, Denver, CO 80214, USA.
Insights
Researchers investigated CD20 expression in dogs to assess its diagnostic and therapeutic potential for canine non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). An antibody targeting intracellular CD20 successfully identified malignant B-cells, aiding NHL phenotyping.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Oncology
- Immunology
- Canine Lymphoma Research
Background:
- CD20 is a cell surface antigen expressed on B lymphocytes, making it a target for B-cell malignancies.
- Understanding CD20 expression in canine lymphoma is crucial for developing targeted therapies and diagnostic tools.
- Previous studies have not fully characterized canine CD20 expression, particularly regarding its extracellular domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the expression of CD20 in normal canine tissues and canine non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
- To determine the feasibility of using CD20 as a diagnostic marker for canine NHL.
- To assess the potential of CD20 as a therapeutic target in canine lymphoma.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to detect CD20 expression in normal canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells, spleen, lymph nodes, and canine NHL tissues.
- Antibodies targeting both intracellular and extracellular domains of human and mouse CD20 were employed.
- Reactivity patterns were compared with those of an antibody recognizing canine CD79a.
Main Results:
- An antibody against an intracellular epitope of human CD20 recognized canine CD20 (32-36 kd) in normal lymphocytes and malignant B-cell NHL, but not T-cell NHL.
- CD20 expression patterns in NHL samples correlated with those of CD79a, suggesting utility in phenotyping canine NHL.
- Normal canine B cells did not react with antibodies targeting extracellular CD20 domains, including Rituximab.
Conclusions:
- An anti-CD20 antibody targeting an intracellular epitope is suitable for phenotyping canine B-cell NHL.
- Current antibodies against extracellular CD20 domains are not effective for canine lymphoma.
- Development of specific antibodies targeting extracellular canine CD20 is necessary for therapeutic applications.
Abstract:
We examined the expression of CD20 in normal canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells, normal canine spleen, and canine non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) to determine the feasibility of using this antigen as a diagnostic aid and as a possible target for therapy. An antibody generated against a C-terminal (intracytoplasmic) epitope of human CD20 recognized proteins of 32-36 kd in normal and malignant canine lymphocytes. This antibody showed restricted membrane binding in a subset of lymphocytes in peripheral blood, in the B-cell regions from a normal canine spleen and lymph node, and in malignant cells from 19 dogs with B-cell NHL, but not from 15 dogs with T-cell NHL. The patterns of CD20 reactivity in these samples overlapped those seen using an antibody that recognizes canine CD79a. This anti-CD20 antibody is therefore suitable as an aid to phenotype canine NHL. In contrast, normal canine B cells were not recognized by any of 28 antibodies directed against the extracellular domains of human CD20 (including the chimeric mouse-human antibody Rituximab) or by any of 12 antibodies directed against the extracellular domains of mouse CD20. Thus, the use of CD20 as a therapeutic target will require the generation of specific antibodies against the extracellular domains of canine CD20.
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