title: BAFF upregulates CD28/B7 and CD40/CD154 expression and promotes mouse T and B cell interaction in vitro via BAFF receptor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) is a member of TNF family and required for peripheral B cell survival and homeostasis. BAFF has been shown to promote the proliferation of T and B cells. In this study we examined whether and how BAFF mediated the interaction between mouse T and B cells in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  BAFF-stimulated B or T cells were co-cultured with T or B cells. The interactions between T and B cells were analyzed by measuring the expression of co-stimulatory molecules (CD28/CD80 or CD40/CD154), the proliferation and secretion of T and B cells and other factors. Two siRNAs against the transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) and BAFF receptor (BAFF-R) were used to identify the receptors responsible for the actions of BAFF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BAFF-stimulated B cells significantly promoted the proliferation and activity of co-cultured T cells, and increased the percentages of CD4(+)CD28(+) and CD4(+)CD154(+) T cells. Similarly, BAFF-stimulated T cells significantly promoted the proliferation and activity of co-cultured B cells, and increased CD19(+)CD80(+) and CD19(+)CD40(+)B cell subpopulations. BAFF-R siRNA-silenced B cells showed significantly lower expression of CD40 and CD80 than the control B cells. When the BAFF-R siRNA-silenced B cells were stimulated with BAFF, then co-cultured with T cells, the expression of CD28 and CD154 on T cells was not increased. TACI siRNA-silenced B cells exhibited higher expression of CD40 and CD80 than the control B cells. When the TACI siRNA-silenced B cells were stimulated with BAFF, then co-cultured with T cells, the expression of CD28 and CD154 on T cells was significantly increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BAFF upregulates CD28/B7 and CD40/CD154 expression, and promotes the interactions between T and B cells in a BAFF-R-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Tong
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Hua-Xun
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Ling-Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D053303:Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C486361:Tnfrsf13b protein, mouse; C486662:Tnfrsf13c protein, mouse; C505720:Tnfsf13b protein, mouse; D053303:Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein