Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)

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Schneider, P. et al.

Maturation of marginal zone and follicular B cells requires B cell activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family and is independent of B cell maturation antigen.

B cells undergo a complex series of maturation and selection steps in the bone marrow and spleen during differentiation into mature immune effector cells. The tumor necrosis factor ( TNF) family member B cell activating factor of the TNF family ( BAFF) ( BLyS/ TALL-1) plays an important role in B cell homeostasis. BAFF and its close homologue a proliferation- inducing ligand (APRIL) have both been shown to interact with at least two receptors, B cell maturation antigen ( BCMA) and transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI), however their relative contribution in transducing BAFF signals in vivo remains unclear. To functionally inactivate both BAFF and APRIL, mice transgenic for a soluble form of TACI were generated. They display a developmental block of B cell maturation in the periphery, leading to a severe depletion of marginal zone and follicular B2 B cells, but not of peritoneal B1 B cells. In contrast, mice transgenic for a soluble form of BCMA, which binds APRIL, have no detectable B cell phenotype. This demonstrates a crucial role for BAFF in B cell maturation and strongly suggests that it signals via a BCMA-independent pathway and in an APRIL-dispensable way.[1]

References

Maturation of marginal zone and follicular B cells requires B cell activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family and is independent of B cell maturation antigen. Schneider, P., Takatsuka, H., Wilson, A., Mackay, F., Tardivel, A., Lens, S., Cachero, T.G., Finke, D., Beermann, F., Tschopp, J. J. Exp. Med. (2001) [Pubmed]

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