Thymus-independent class switch recombination is affected by APRIL.
The tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family member a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) is implicated in various B-cell processes, such as class switch recombination, plasma cell differentiation and plasma cell survival. This was suggested from initial studies analysing B-cell responses in APRIL-deficient and transgenic mice, and mice deficient for the TNF receptors of APRIL, transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) and B-cell maturation antigen. Here, we present additional evidence for the importance of APRIL in thymus-independent (TI) B-cell responses, using APRIL-deficient and transgenic mice. APRIL-deficient mice show an impaired immunoglobulin A (IgA) response towards TI B-cell antigens, whereas APRIL transgenic mice show exaggerated TI B-cell responses. Moreover, antibody titres to TI antigens were sustained in APRIL transgenic mice for a long time and even increased up to 75 days in the case of IgA against 4-hydroxy-nitrophenacetyl-lipopolysaccharide.
Hardenberg
Gijs
G
Laboratory of Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
van Bostelen
Liesbeth
L
Hahne
Michael
M
Medema
Jan Paul
JP
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching / Q000235:genetics*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / Q000502:physiology*
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009596:Nitrophenols; D010648:Phenylacetates; C491959:Tnfsf13 protein, mouse; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13; C026242:4-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl acetic acid