title: Human B lymphocyte malignancies: exploitation of BLyS and APRIL and their receptors.
abstract: B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), also referred to as B cell activating factor of the TNF family, is a recently identified tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family member shown to be critical for maintenance of normal B cell development and homeostasis and it shares significant homology with another TNF superfamily member, a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL). Currently, three receptors have been identified that transmit signals upon BLyS and APRIL binding and these include B cell maturation antigen, B cell activating factor receptor, and transmembrane activator and CAML interactor. The striking effects of BLyS on normal B cell maintenance and survival and the largely B lineage-restricted pattern of receptor expression, raises the possibility that these TNF family ligands and receptors may be involved not only in B cell autoimmunity, but also in the pathogenesis and maintenance of mature B lineage hematological malignancies. In this article, we will review the spectrum of human B lineage malignancies and discuss current evidence supporting a role for BLyS and APRIL in fueling the growth and survival of specific B cell malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. jelinek.diane@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Diane F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Jelinek
authors.forename: Jaime R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Darce
mesh_terms: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000276:immunology; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; C120197:BLyS receptor; D008565:Membrane Proteins; 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