Expression and function of TNF family member B cell-activating factor in the development of autoimmune arthritis

Min Zhang; King-Hung Ko; Queenie Lai Kwan Lam; Cherry Kam Chun Lo; Gopesh Srivastava; Bojian Zheng; Yu-Lung Lau; Liwei Lu

doi:10.1093/intimm/dxh287

Expression and function of TNF family member B cell-activating factor in the development of autoimmune arthritis

Int Immunol. 2005 Aug;17(8):1081-92. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxh287. Epub 2005 Jul 6.

Authors

Min Zhang¹, King-Hung Ko, Queenie Lai Kwan Lam, Cherry Kam Chun Lo, Gopesh Srivastava, Bojian Zheng, Yu-Lung Lau, Liwei Lu

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, The People's Republic of China .

PMID: 16000326
DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxh287

Abstract

B cell-activating factor (BAFF), a member of tumor necrosis factor family cytokines, has been shown to enhance the maturation and survival of peripheral B cells. While BAFF is implicated in regulating B cell function and autoimmunity, its role in the development of autoimmune arthritis has not been fully clarified. Using a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model, we detected dysregulated expression of BAFF and its receptors in the peripheral lymphoid organs during arthritis induction. Elevated serum levels of BAFF were closely correlated with increased levels of anti-collagen antibodies during the CIA progression. Moreover, dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages were found to express high amount of BAFF proteins at the acute and chronic stages of CIA, respectively. In cultures, recombinant BAFF suppressed apoptosis of splenic B cells from arthritic mice, and DC-induced B cell proliferation was specifically blocked by soluble decoy receptor B cell maturation antigen-Fc. These findings suggest that overproduction of BAFF by DCs and macrophages may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of experimental arthritis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Apoptosis
Arthritis, Experimental / etiology*
Arthritis, Experimental / genetics
Arthritis, Experimental / immunology
Arthritis, Experimental / pathology
Autoantibodies / blood
Autoimmune Diseases / etiology*
Autoimmune Diseases / genetics
Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
B-Cell Activating Factor
B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor
B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
B-Lymphocytes / pathology
Base Sequence
Cell Proliferation
Collagen / immunology
DNA, Complementary / genetics
Dendritic Cells / immunology
Gene Expression
Lymphocyte Activation
Macrophages / immunology
Male
Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis
Membrane Proteins / genetics*
Membrane Proteins / immunology*
Mice
Mice, Inbred DBA
RNA, Messenger / genetics
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / biosynthesis
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / genetics
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics*
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology*

Substances

Autoantibodies
B-Cell Activating Factor
B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor
DNA, Complementary
Membrane Proteins
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
Tnfrsf13c protein, mouse
Tnfsf13b protein, mouse
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Collagen