BAFF binds to the tumor necrosis factor receptor-like molecule B cell maturation antigen and is important for maintaining the peripheral B cell population.
The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family member B cell activating factor (BAFF) binds B cells and enhances B cell receptor-triggered proliferation. We find that B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a predicted member of the TNF receptor family expressed primarily in mature B cells, is a receptor for BAFF. Although BCMA was previously localized to the Golgi apparatus, BCMA was found to be expressed on the surface of transfected cells and tonsillar B cells. A soluble form of BCMA, which inhibited the binding of BAFF to a B cell line, induced a dramatic decrease in the number of peripheral B cells when administered in vivo. Moreover, culturing splenic cells in the presence of BAFF increased survival of a percentage of the B cells. These results are consistent with a role for BAFF in maintaining homeostasis of the B cell population.
Thompson
J S
JS
Department of Molecular Genetics, Biogen, Incorporated, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
Schneider
P
P
Kalled
S L
SL
Wang
L
L
Lefevre
E A
EA
Cachero
T G
TG
MacKay
F
F
Bixler
S A
SA
Zafari
M
M
Liu
Z Y
ZY
Woodcock
S A
SA
Qian
F
F
Batten
M
M
Madry
C
C
Richard
Y
Y
Benjamin
C D
CD
Browning
J L
JL
Tsapis
A
A
Tschopp
J
J
Ambrose
C
C
D000818:Animals; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D053301:B-Cell Maturation Antigen; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D053301:B-Cell Maturation Antigen; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C086966:TNFRSF17 protein, human; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; C490176:Tnfrsf17 protein, mouse; C505720:Tnfsf13b protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha