Characterization of Lamprey BAFF-like Gene: Evolutionary Implications

BAFF (TNF superfamily [TNFSF] 13B/Blys) and APRIL (TNFSF13) are important regulatory factors for lymphocyte activation and survival in mammals. A BAFF/APRIL-like relative called BAFF- and APRIL-like molecule (BALM) has also been identified in cartilaginous and bony fishes, and we report in this study a BAFF-like gene in lampreys. Our phylogenetic analysis of these genes and a related TNFSF12 gene called TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) suggest that, whereas an ancestral homolog of BAFF and APRIL was already present in a common ancestor of jawed and jawless vertebrates, TWEAK evolved early on in the jawed vertebrate lineage. Like mammalian BAFF and APRIL, the lamprey BAFF-like gene is expressed in T-like, B-like, and innate immune cells. The predicted protein encoded by this BAFF-like gene in lampreys exhibits higher sequence similarity with mammalian BAFF than APRIL. Correspondingly, we find BAFF orthologs in all of the jawed vertebrate representatives that we examined, although APRIL and/or BALM orthologs are not identifiable in certain jawed vertebrates. For example, BALM is not identifiable in tetrapods, and APRIL is not identifiable in several bony fishes or in birds, the latter of which also lack a TWEAK-like gene. Our analysis further suggests that a hybrid molecule called TWE-PRIL, which is a product of an in-genomic fusion between APRIL and TWEAK genes evolved early in mammalian evolution.