Abstract
The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family member B cell activating factor (BAFF) binds B cells and enhances B cell receptor-triggered proliferation. We find that B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a predicted member of the TNF receptor family expressed primarily in mature B cells, is a receptor for BAFF. Although BCMA was previously localized to the Golgi apparatus, BCMA was found to be expressed on the surface of transfected cells and tonsillar B cells. A soluble form of BCMA, which inhibited the binding of BAFF to a B cell line, induced a dramatic decrease in the number of peripheral B cells when administered in vivo. Moreover, culturing splenic cells in the presence of BAFF increased survival of a percentage of the B cells. These results are consistent with a role for BAFF in maintaining homeostasis of the B cell population.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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B-Cell Activating Factor
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B-Cell Maturation Antigen
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Cell Line
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Cell Survival
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Homeostasis
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin G / immunology
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Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / genetics
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Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / immunology
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Lymphocyte Activation*
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / immunology*
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Membrane Proteins / physiology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Palatine Tonsil / immunology
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / genetics
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / immunology*
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / physiology*
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Recombinant Proteins / immunology
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Spleen / immunology
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Transfection
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*
Substances
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B-Cell Activating Factor
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B-Cell Maturation Antigen
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Immunoglobulin G
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Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
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Membrane Proteins
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
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Recombinant Proteins
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TNFRSF17 protein, human
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TNFSF13B protein, human
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Tnfrsf17 protein, mouse
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Tnfsf13b protein, mouse
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha