BAFF, a novel ligand of the tumor necrosis factor family, stimulates B cell growth.
Members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family induce pleiotropic biological responses, including cell growth, differentiation, and even death. Here we describe a novel member of the TNF family, designated BAFF (for B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family), which is expressed by T cells and dendritic cells. Human BAFF was mapped to chromosome 13q32-34. Membrane-bound BAFF was processed and secreted through the action of a protease whose specificity matches that of the furin family of proprotein convertases. The expression of BAFF receptor appeared to be restricted to B cells. Both membrane-bound and soluble BAFF induced proliferation of anti-immunoglobulin M-stimulated peripheral blood B lymphocytes. Moreover, increased amounts of immunoglobulins were found in supernatants of germinal center-like B cells costimulated with BAFF. These results suggest that BAFF plays an important role as costimulator of B cell proliferation and function.
Schneider
P
P
Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
MacKay
F
F
Steiner
V
V
Hofmann
K
K
Bodmer
J L
JL
Holler
N
N
Ambrose
C
C
Lawton
P
P
Bixler
S
S
Acha-Orbea
H
H
Valmori
D
D
Romero
P
P
Werner-Favre
C
C
Zubler
R H
RH
Browning
J L
JL
Tschopp
J
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002882:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D017931:DNA Primers; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; C505720:Tnfsf13b protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha