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Previous Volume 350:2546-2548 June 17, 2004 Number 25 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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CD20 protein is expressed on the surface membrane of pre-B lymphocytes and mature B lymphocytes. The protein is located in the B-cell membrane, with 44 amino acids exposed in the extracellular space. Rituximab is a chimeric anti-CD20 antibody whose variable (antigen-binding) region was derived from a mouse antibody so that it has high affinity for CD20. The binding of rituximab to the CD20 antigen interferes with the activation and differentiation of B cells.¹

Hematopoietic stem cells, pro-B lymphocytes, and plasma cells do not express CD20. This distribution permits the specific elimination of B cells without preventing the regeneration of B . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Source Information

From the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Md.

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