title: Association of BAFF, APRIL serum levels, BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA expression on peripheral B-cell subsets with clinical manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) signaling pathways regulate B-cell survival through interactions with their receptors BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA. We evaluated the association of these ligands/receptors on B-cell subsets according to clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  BAFF and APRIL serum concentrations were measured in 30 SLE patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA expression was analyzed on each B cell subset (CD19 + CD27-CD38-/ + naïve; CD19 + CD27 + CD38-/ + memory; CD19 + CD27-CD38 + + immature and CD19 + CD27 + CD38 + + plasma cells) by flow cytometry, and compared among patients with different clinical manifestations as well as healthy controls (HCs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum BAFF and APRIL levels were high in SLE patients and correlated with the Mex-SLEDAI disease activity index (r = 0.584; p = 0.001 and r = 0.456; p = 0.011, respectively). The SLE patients showed an increased proportion of memory and plasma B cells (p < 0.05). BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA expression in SLE patients was decreased in almost all B cell subsets compared to HCs (p < 0.05). A lower BCMA expression was associated with severe disease activity, glomerulonephritis, serositis and hemolytic anemia (p < 0.01). BCMA expression showed a negative correlation with Mex-SLEDAI score (r = -0.494, p = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased BCMA expression on peripheral B cells according to severe disease activity suggests that BCMA plays an important regulating role in B-cell hyperactivity and immune tolerance homeostasis in SLE patients.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Departamento de Clínicas Médicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Salazar-Camarena
authors.affiliation: División de Inmunología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social IMSS, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Lazareno
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Departamento de Clínicas Médicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Departamento de Clínicas Médicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oregon-Romero
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Departamento de Clínicas Médicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Machado-Contreras
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Departamento de Clínicas Médicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Valle
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Departamento de Clínicas Médicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orozco-López
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Departamento de Clínicas Médicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marín-Rosales
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Departamento de Clínicas Médicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México kklaumx@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Palafox-Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor / Q000235:genetics; D053301:B-Cell Maturation Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / 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*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; D053301:B-Cell Maturation Antigen; C108467:TNFRSF13B protein, human; C086966:TNFRSF17 protein, human; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D053303:Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13
keywords: B cell subsets; BAFF; BAFF receptors; BAFF-R; BCMA; Systemic lupus erythematosus; disease activity