Rituximab causes a polarization of B cells that augments its therapeutic function in NK-cell–mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity

Rituximab, which binds CD20 on B cells, is one of the best-characterized antibodies used in the treatment of B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases. Rituximab triggers natural killer (NK)-cell–mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), but little is known about the spatial and temporal dynamics of cell-cell interactions during ADCC or what makes rituximab potent at triggering ADCC. Here, using laser scanning confocal microscopy, we found that rituximab caused CD20 to cap at the B-cell surface independent of antibody crosslinking or intercellular contact. Unexpectedly, other proteins, including intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and moesin, were selectively recruited to the cap of CD20 and the microtubule organizing center became polarized toward the cap. Importantly, the frequency at which NK cells would kill target cells via ADCC increased by 60% when target cells were polarized compared with when they were unpolarized. Polarized B cells were lysed more frequently still when initial contact with NK cells occurred at the place where CD20 was capped. This demonstrates that the site of contact between immune cells and target cells influences immune responses. Together, these data establish that rituximab causes a polarization of B cells and this augments its therapeutic function in triggering NK-cell–mediated ADCC.