Description The CD20 antigen is a phosphoprotein with a molecular weight of 35 or 37 kilodaltons (kd), depending on the degree of phosphorylation. The antigen is not glycosylated. The CD20 antigen is expressed on B lymphocytes synchronous with the expression of surface IgM. The antigen is present on both resting and activated B lymphocytes but is lost prior to differentiation into plasma cells. The CD20 antigen is found in both mantle-zone and germinal center areas of secondary follicles of lymphoid tissue and can be expressed on follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in germinal centers. Low-level expression of the CD20 antigen has been detected on a subpopulation of T lymphocytes.