A proliferation-inducing ligand mediates follicular lymphoma B-cell proliferation and cyclin D1 expression through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-regulated mammalian target of rapamycin activation

Blood. 2009 May 21;113(21):5206-16. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-09-179762. Epub 2009 Mar 25.

Abstract

A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), as well as its receptors transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand (CAML) interactor (TACI) and B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), has been shown to be important in B-cell biology, and overexpression of APRIL in mice results in development of lymphoma. Limited data are available on APRIL-specific signaling responses, but knockout models suggest that signaling through TACI is critical to B-cell homeostasis. To better understand the mechanism by which APRIL exerts its effects and how it may contribute to lymphomagenesis, we sought to characterize the outcome of APRIL-TACI interactions. In support of murine studies, we find that APRIL induces proliferation of human patient follicular lymphoma (FL) B cells in a TACI-dependent manner. This study also shows that APRIL is expressed within the tumor microenvironment and that, upon engagement with TACI, APRIL mediates activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Activation of PI3K via APRIL results in phosphorylation of Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the mTOR-specific substrates p70S6 kinase and 4E-binding protein 1 in a TACI-dependent manner. APRIL-mediated signaling also results in phosphorylation of Rb and up-regulation of cyclin D1. These studies are the first to characterize APRIL-TACI-specific signaling and suggest a role for this ligand-receptor pair in FL B-cell growth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Cyclin D1 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / pathology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein / metabolism*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation / genetics

Substances

  • TNFRSF13B protein, human
  • TNFSF13 protein, human
  • Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13
  • Cyclin D1
  • Protein Kinases
  • MTOR protein, human
  • mTOR protein, mouse
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases