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The BAFF/APRIL system: life beyond B lymphocytes

Lai Guan Ng1, Charles R Mackay, Fabienne Mackay

  • 1Arthritis and Asthma Research Program, The Garvan Institute of Medical Reseach, 384 Victoria St, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.

Molecular Immunology
|April 15, 2005
PubMed

B cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are two members of the TNF ligand superfamily. Studies of BAFF, APRIL and their receptors have highlighted the importance of this ligand/receptor system in regulating B cell homeostasis, tolerance and malignancy. Neutralizing BAFF can inhibit disease progression in animal models of autoimmunity, possibly by reducing survival of autoreactive B cells. In addition, BAFF inhibitors also prevent B lymphoma cell survival and may be useful for the treatment of lymphoid cancers. Recent work suggests that BAFF is also important for T cell activation and differentiation, an aspect that may be critical for the progression of certain autoimmune diseases. Therefore, targeting the BAFF/APRIL system may protect against autoimmunity and lymphoid cancers through the inhibition of pathogenic B and T cell functions.

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