Mice transgenic for BAFF develop lymphocytic disorders along with autoimmune manifestations.
The cause of many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases is unresolved, although dysregulated production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family members appears to be important in many cases. BAFF, a new member of the TNF family, binds to B cells and costimulates their growth in vitro. Mice transgenic for BAFF have vastly increased numbers of mature B and effector T cells, and develop autoimmune-like manifestations such as the presence of high levels of rheumatoid factors, circulating immune complexes, anti-DNA autoantibodies, and immunoglobulin deposition in the kidneys. This phenotype is reminiscent of certain human autoimmune disorders and suggests that dysregulation of BAFF expression may be a critical element in the chain of events leading to autoimmunity.
Mackay
F
F
Department of Immunology, Inflammation and Cell Biology, Biogen, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA. fabienne_mackay@biogen.com
Woodcock
S A
SA
Lawton
P
P
Ambrose
C
C
Baetscher
M
M
Schneider
P
P
Tschopp
J
J
Browning
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007700:Kinetics; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; C505720:Tnfsf13b protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor