Rituximab binds to the CD20 antigen on B cells. Which cell type is primarily affected?

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Multiple Choice

Rituximab binds to the CD20 antigen on B cells. Which cell type is primarily affected?

Explanation:
The drug targets a B cell–specific marker. CD20 is expressed on mature B lymphocytes, so rituximab binds these cells and flags them for destruction by the immune system, primarily through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-mediated lysis. Because CD20 is not present on T lymphocytes, NK cells, or macrophages as their defining marker, these cell types are not the primary targets. Plasma cells typically don’t express CD20, so antibody-producing cells are largely spared, allowing B cells to gradually reconstitute after treatment. Therefore, mature B lymphocytes are the cell type primarily affected.

The drug targets a B cell–specific marker. CD20 is expressed on mature B lymphocytes, so rituximab binds these cells and flags them for destruction by the immune system, primarily through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-mediated lysis. Because CD20 is not present on T lymphocytes, NK cells, or macrophages as their defining marker, these cell types are not the primary targets. Plasma cells typically don’t express CD20, so antibody-producing cells are largely spared, allowing B cells to gradually reconstitute after treatment. Therefore, mature B lymphocytes are the cell type primarily affected.

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