Effects of human soluble BAFF synthesized in Escherichia coli on CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes as well as NK cells in mice.
B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF, also called BLyS, TALL-1, zTNF-4, or THANK) is an important survival factor for B lymphocytes. In this study, we injected mouse abdominal cavity with human soluble BAFF (hsBAFF, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 2 mg/kg body mass) synthesized in Escherichia coli. On the 8th day after injection, we investigated the effects of hsBAFF on immune functional activities of splenic B lymphocytes, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells in mice. The results showed that B lymphocyte proliferation significantly increased in hsBAFF-treated groups with dosages of 0.1 mg/kg (p<0.05), 0.5 and 2 mg/kg (p<0.01). We observed a dose-dependent increase of CD4(+) T lymphocyte percentage and significantly higher values in 0.5 and 2 mg/kg hsBAFF-treated groups (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively) compared to control group, but CD8(+) T lymphocyte percentage remained unchanged. The ratio of CD4(+) to CD8(+) T lymphocytes rose with increasing hsBAFF dosage (p<0.05 for 2 mg/kg hsBAFF vs. control). Significantly stronger NK cell activities were found in 0.5 and 2 mg/kg hsBAFF-treated groups (p<0.05). The main finding of this study is that the hsBAFF can enhance immune responses in the body by increasing B lymphocyte and CD4(+) T lymphocyte function as well as elevating NK cell activity.
Shan
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X
College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, 122 Ninghai Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China. lchen@njnu.edu.cn
Chen
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Cao
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Xu
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Zhang
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S
D000818:Animals; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D002452:Cell Count; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; C505720:Tnfsf13b protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha