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.
Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
L D
LD
Zhao
Y
Y
Li
M F
MF
Smith
J S
JS
Wang
W
W
Zhang
F L
FL
Tang
X P
XP
Tian
H Y
HY
Wang
F C
FC
Zhang
D N
DN
Ba
W
W
He
X
X
Zhang
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