Systemic lupus erythematosus: a blissless disease of too much BLyS (B lymphocyte stimulator) protein.
B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) protein is among the novel tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligands and receptor superfamily members recently described. BLyS protein can promote B cell survival, expansion, and differentiation both and. Constitutive overexpression of BLyS protein can result in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like disease in mice, and circulating levels of BLyS protein are elevated in a subset of human SLE patients. Treatment of SLE mice with a BLyS protein antagonist ameliorates disease progression and enhances survival. By inference, BLyS protein may also play an important contributory role in pathogenesis and/or propagation of human SLE and becomes a legitimate candidate target for antagonist biologic agents.
Division of Rheumatology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033, USA. stohl@usc.edu
William
W
Stohl
D000818:Animals; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
C490341:ANP32B protein, human; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; C120197:BLyS receptor; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C435926:TNFRSF13C protein, human; C486662:Tnfrsf13c protein, mouse