title: BAFF and APRIL protect myeloma cells from apoptosis induced by interleukin 6 deprivation and dexamethasone.
abstract: Identification of growth factors in neoplasias may be a target for future therapies by blocking either growth factor receptor interaction or the induced pathway. Using gene expression profiling, we identified overexpression of 2 receptors for a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and B-cell activating factor (BAFF) in malignant plasma cells compared with normal plasma cells. APRIL and BAFF are involved in a variety of tumor and autoimmune diseases, including B-cell malignancies. We confirmed the expression of BAFF and APRIL receptors (B-cell maturation antigen [BCMA], transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor [TACI], and BAFF-R) in a majority of 13 myeloma cell lines and in the purified primary myeloma cells of 11 patients. APRIL and BAFF were potent survival factors for exogenous cytokine-dependent myeloma cell lines and were autocrine growth factors for the RPMI8226 and L363 autonomously growing cell lines. These factors activated nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase/AKT, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase pathways and induced a strong up-regulation of the Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 antiapoptotic proteins in myeloma cells. BAFF or APRIL was also involved in the survival of primary myeloma cells cultured with their bone-marrow environment, and protected them from dexamethasone (DEX)-induced apoptosis. Finally, the serum levels of BAFF and APRIL were increased about 5-fold in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) as compared with healthy donors. Altogether, these data suggest that APRIL/BAFF inhibitors may be of clinical value in MM.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U475 and Unité de Thérapie Cellulaire, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Montpellier, Hôpital St Eloi, France.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreaux
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Legouffe
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jourdan
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quittet
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rème
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lugagne
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moine
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tarte
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; D053301:B-Cell Maturation Antigen; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D053303:Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; D053301:B-Cell Maturation Antigen; D003907:Dexamethasone; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D053303:Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; C490341:ANP32B protein, human; C108467:TNFRSF13B protein, human; C435926:TNFRSF13C protein, human; C086966:TNFRSF17 protein, human; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human