title: Involvement of BAFF and APRIL in the resistance to apoptosis of B-CLL through an autocrine pathway.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily members BAFF, or B-cell activation factor of the TNF family, and APRIL, a proliferation-inducing ligand, are involved in normal B-cell survival and differentiation. They interact with 3 receptors: BAFF-R, specific to BAFF; and TACI and BCMA, which are shared by BAFF and APRIL. We tested the potential role of these proteins in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) resistance to apoptosis. TACI and BAFF-R mRNAs were found in leukemic B cells. BAFF and APRIL mRNAs and proteins were detected in B-CLL leukemic cells and normal blood or tonsil-derived B lymphocytes. Yet, in contrast to normal B lymphocytes, BAFF and APRIL were expressed at the membranes of leukemic cells. Adding soluble BAFF or APRIL protected B-CLL cells against spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis and stimulated NF-kappaB activation. Conversely, adding soluble BCMA-Fc or anti-BAFF and anti-APRIL antibodies enhanced B-CLL apoptosis. Moreover, a soluble form of BAFF was detected using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) in the sera of B-CLL patients but not of healthy donors. Taken together, our results indicate that B-CLL cells can be rescued from apoptosis through an autocrine process involving BAFF, APRIL, and their receptors. Inhibiting BAFF and APRIL pathways may be of therapeutic value for B-CLL treatment.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies; D017209:Apoptosis; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D017931:DNA Primers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009707:Nucleosomes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C114631:TNFSF13 protein, human; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha