Expressions of BAFF/BAFF receptors and their correlation with disease activity in Chinese SLE patients.
B-cell activating factor belonging to tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) is essential for B-cell survival and function through interaction with its receptors BAFF receptor 3 (BR3), B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and/or transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI), though BCMA and/or TACI can also bind to a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL). We evaluate the correlation of the expressions of these ligands/receptors with different clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Levels of BAFF and APRIL in plasma from 73 SLE patients were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expressions of BR3, TACI and BCMA on CD19+ B cells were detected by flow cytometry. Clinical data were collected and disease activity was evaluated using SLEDAI-2000. SLE patients had elevated BAFF and APRIL levels in their plasma. BAFF levels correlated positively with SLEDAI while negatively with the BR3 protein expression on CD19+ B cells (p < .05). The detected BR3 protein expression in SLE patients was reduced on CD19+IgD+CD27-, CD19+IgD+CD27+ as well as CD19+IgD-CD27+ B cells compared to the counterparts of healthy controls (p < .001), whereas SLE patients did not differ from healthy controls in BR3 mRNA levels. In untreated new-onset patients, the expression rate of BR3 on CD19+ B cells correlated negatively with SLEDAI (p < .05). Elevation of BAFF and reduction of BR3 on CD19+ B cells were more obvious in those with lupus nephritis (LN, p < .05). TACI expression on CD19+ B cells was up-regulated only in those subjects with LN (p < .05). Elevated plasma BAFF and reduced BR3 protein expression on peripheral B cells could act as biomarkers for active disease in SLE patients. High expression of TACI may indicate the occurrence of LN.
Zhao
L D
LD
Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Li
Y
Y
Smith
M F
MF
Wang
J S
JS
Zhang
W
W
Tang
F L
FL
Tian
X P
XP
Wang
H Y
HY
Zhang
F C
FC
Ba
D N
DN
He
W
W
Zhang
X
X
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D053303:Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein / Q000235:genetics; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; C108467:TNFRSF13B protein, human; D053303:Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13