title: Correlation of expression levels of BLyS and its receptors with multiple myeloma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the expression levels of B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) and its receptors in multiple myeloma (MM), and to investigate the relationship between them.
  
  
  METHODS
  BLyS and its receptors mRNA levels from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 31 MM patients and 30 healthy controls were determined by real-time PCR. The results were presented as the ratios of target genes, to beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)M), mRNA. BLyS serum level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The circulating levels of BLyS in 31 MM patients were significantly elevated and correlated with the levels of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). More importantly, 93.55% (29/31) and 90.32% (28/31) of these MM patients had significantly higher expression levels of BLyS and BCMA mRNA respectively, which are correlated with the levels of LDH, while 64.52% (20/31) of these MM patients had significantly lower expression levels of TACI mRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BLyS protein concentration and BLyS, TACI and BAFF-R mRNA expression levels were significantly elevated in patients with MM, suggesting that BLyS, TACI and BAFF-R may be involved in the pathogenesis of MM, and that expression levels could serve as a biomarker of prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine Center, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226001, PR China.
authors.forename: Shaoqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Yueguo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongbing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiantao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Renqian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002999:Clone Cells; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase