title: The abnormal high expression of B cell activating factor belonging to TNF superfamily (BAFF) and its potential role in kidney transplant recipients.
abstract: B cell activating factor belonging to TNF superfamily (BAFF) is a critical regulator of B cell maturation and survival. In this present study, the expression characteristic of BAFF in kidney transplantation recipients was investigated, its potential significance was analyzed and peripheral blood of follow-up kidney transplant recipients was studied. Flow cytometric assay results showed that, cell-surface BAFF was significantly highly expressed on peripheral CD3(+) T lymphocytes in > or = 5 yrs group of kidney transplant recipients, compared with other groups (p < 0.05). BAFF expression could be found on CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells. The BAFF mRNA levels in peripheral mononuclear cells were consistent with the protein levels. However, serum soluble BAFF levels were inter-individually different in each group. Stratified by renal function, it was found that cell-surface BAFF levels were significantly higher in those with abnormal renal function, compared with recipients with normal renal function (p < 0.05). ELISA assay results showed that expression levels of cell surface BAFF were significantly correlated with anti-HLA I & II antibodies. These results indicate that BAFF may be involved in the development of graft-loss and influences the long-time outcome of kidney allograft, likely mediated by interfering with immune response.
authors.affiliation: The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Urology Medicine, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiaozhou
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yingdi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yibei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xueguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D012333:RNA, Messenger