Role of BAFF and APRIL in human B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
- 26 May 2006
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in Immunology
- Vol. 118 (3), 281-292
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2567.2006.02377.x
Abstract
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) is the most prevalent leukaemia in Western countries and is characterized by the gradual accumulation in patients of small mature B cells. Since the vast majority of tumoral cells are quiescent, the accumulation mostly results from deficient apoptosis rather than from acute proliferation. Although the phenomenon is relevant in vivo, B-CLL cells die rapidly in vitro as a consequence of apoptosis, suggesting a lack of essential growth factors in the culture medium. Indeed, the rate of B-CLL cell death in vitro is modulated by different cytokines, some favouring the apoptotic process, others counteracting it. Two related members of the tumour necrosis factor family, BAFF (B-cell activating factor of the TNF family) and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand), already known for their crucial role in normal B-cell survival, differentiation and apoptosis, were recently shown to be expressed by B-CLL cells. These molecules are able to protect the leukaemic cells against spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis via autocrine and/or paracrine pathways. This review will focus on the role of BAFF and APRIL in the survival of tumoral cells. It will discuss the expression of these molecules by B-CLL cells, their regulation, transduction pathways and their effects on leukaemic cells. The design of reagents able to counteract the effects of these molecules seems to be a new promising therapeutic approach for B-CLL and is already currently developed in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.Keywords
This publication has 90 references indexed in Scilit:
- Identification of proteoglycans as the APRIL-specific binding partnersThe Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2005
- Heparan sulfate proteoglycan binding promotes APRIL-induced tumor cell proliferationCell Death & Differentiation, 2005
- The Crystal Structure of A Proliferation-inducing Ligand, APRILJournal of Molecular Biology, 2004
- Increased mitochondrial biogenesis in primary leukemia cells: the role of endogenous nitric oxide and impact on sensitivity to fludarabineLeukemia, 2004
- Discovery of high-affinity peptide binders to BLyS by phage displayJournal of Molecular Recognition, 2004
- The role of the BAFF/APRIL system in B cell homeostasis and lymphoid cancersCurrent Opinion in Pharmacology, 2004
- Human B Lymphocyte Malignancies: Exploitation of BLyS and APRIL and Their ReceptorsCurrent directions in autoimmunity, 2004
- ΔBAFF, an Alternate Splice Isoform That Regulates Receptor Binding and Biopresentation of the B Cell Survival Cytokine, BAFFOnline Journal of Public Health Informatics, 2003
- DCs induce CD40-independent immunoglobulin class switching through BLyS and APRILNature Immunology, 2002
- Lymphocyte Survival--Ignorance Is BLysScience, 2000