To review B-cell activating factor (BAFF)-antagonist therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), literature was searched using the search words and phrases, “BAFF”, “B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS)”, “a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL)”, “B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)”, “transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI)”, “BLyS receptor 3 (BR3)”, “belimumab”, “atacicept”, “blisibimod”, “tabalumab”, and “lupus clinical trial”. In addition, papers from the author's personal library were searched. BAFF-antagonist therapy in SLE has a checkered past, with four late-stage clinical trials meeting their primary endpoints and four failing to do so. Additional late-stage clinical trials are enrolling subjects to address some of the remaining unresolved questions, and novel approaches are proposed to improve results. The BAFF-centric pathway is a proven therapeutic target in SLE. As the only pathway in the past 50+ years to have yielded an United States Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for SLE, it occupies a unique place in the armamentarium of the practicing rheumatologist. The challenges facing clinicians and investigators are how to better tweak the BAFF-centric pathway and improve on the successes realized.
B-Cell Activating Factor* ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Cyclophilins ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lymphocytes ; Research Personnel ; United States

To review B-cell activating factor (BAFF)-antagonist therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), literature was searched using the search words and phrases, “BAFF”, “B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS)”, “a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL)”, “B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)”, “transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI)”, “BLyS receptor 3 (BR3)”, “belimumab”, “atacicept”, “blisibimod”, “tabalumab”, and “lupus clinical trial”. In addition, papers from the author's personal library were searched. BAFF-antagonist therapy in SLE has a checkered past, with four late-stage clinical trials meeting their primary endpoints and four failing to do so. Additional late-stage clinical trials are enrolling subjects to address some of the remaining unresolved questions, and novel approaches are proposed to improve results. The BAFF-centric pathway is a proven therapeutic target in SLE. As the only pathway in the past 50+ years to have yielded an United States Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for SLE, it occupies a unique place in the armamentarium of the practicing rheumatologist. The challenges facing clinicians and investigators are how to better tweak the BAFF-centric pathway and improve on the successes realized.
B-Cell Activating Factor* ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Cyclophilins ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lymphocytes ; Research Personnel ; United States

B cell activating factor (BAFF) is one of the TNF family member, regulates the survival and maturation of B lymphocyte. BAFF binds to three receptors: BCMA, TACI and BAFF-R. In recent years, studies have revealed important roles of BAFF and its receptors in immune regulation of antibody isotype switching, germinal center maintenance, and T cell co-stimulation, that may provide new drugs in the future for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, lymphoma and B cell immunodeficiencies. Therefore, the structure, expression, receptors, biological function and clinical application of BAFF are briefly summarized in this review.
B-Cell Activating Factor ; immunology ; B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor ; immunology ; B-Cell Maturation Antigen ; immunology ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity ; Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein ; immunology

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To analyze the polymorphisms of B cell activating factor (BAFF) gene and the plasma levels of BAFF in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and to investigate their roles in the pathogenesis of ITP.

<b>METHODSb>Alleles specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) and agarose gel electrophoresis were used to identify polymorphisms -871C/T of BAFF promotor in 133 ITP patients and 117 healthy controls. The plasma levels of BAFF were assayed by ELISA.

<b>RESULTSb>In ITP group, the frequency of C/C, C/T and T/T was 33.1%, 42.1% and 24.8%, respectively, the corresponding frequency in control group was 55.6%, 33.3% and 11.1%, respectively. The allele frequency of T in ITP and control groups was 45.9% and 27.4%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the BAFF -871C/T genotypic frequency between the ITP and control groups (P < 0.05). BAFF antigen in untreated ITP, treated patients and controls was 875.86 pg/ml, 502.59 pg/ml and 736.88 pg/ml, respectively, being also a significant difference among the three groups (P < 0.05). BAFF antigen in homozygous T/T was higher than that in homozygous C/C and heterozygous C/T, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

<b>CONCLUSIONSb>Over expression of BAFF may be a risk factor for ITP patients. There is a correlation of the BAFF promotor polymorphism -871C/T with ITP, but the polymorphism does not affect the expression of BAFF.

B-Cell Activating Factor ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To detect the B cell activating factor (BAFF) and explore its significance in patients with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (WAIHA).

<b>METHODSb>The levels of serum soluble BAFF (sBAFF) and BAFF mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in 30 healthy volunteers (control group) and 43 patients with WAIHA were measured by ELISA and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) respectively.

<b>RESULTSb>The levels of serum sBAFF and BAFF mRNA in PBMCs in pretreatment group \[2311 (825 approximately 6523) ng/L and 884 (463 approximately 2346) ng/L\] was significanly higher than those in posttreatment group\[1205(358 approximately 5014) ng/L and 446(138 approximately 2699) ng/L\] and control group\[1128 (590 approximately 3201) ng/L and 341 (102 approximately 965) ng/L\] (both P < 0.01), the difference between the posttreatment group and control group was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference between therapy responsive and nonresponsive groups before treatment. There was a significant difference between the pre- and post-treatment resuets in responsive group (P < 0.01), but not in nonresponsive group (P > 0.05). The serum levels of sBAFF was positively correlated with the levels of the BAFF mRNA in PBMCs both in pre- and post therapy group (both P < 0.05).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>The levels of serum sBAFF and BAFF mRNA in PBMCs are increased in patients with WAIHA, their dynamic alterations may contribute to the development of WAIHA.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; B-Cell Activating Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

In recent decades, the treatment of autoimmune diseases has moved from the use of hormones and conventional immunosuppressive drugs to biological agents. B cell proliferation and maturation play crucial roles in the development of autoimmune diseases. The tumor necrosis factor superfamily ligand B cell activating factor (BAFF) and its receptor mediate B cell survival through regulating signaling pathways. Therefore, BAFF and its receptors are important therapeutic targets for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. This review describes the mechanism of BAFF and its receptor in the human body system and introduces the latest views on how over-activation of BAFF pathway promotes the development of autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. In connection to the treatment of the above three diseases, this review discusses the clinical trials and application status of three BAFF-targeting antibody drugs, including Belimumab, Tabalumab and Atacicept. Finally, this review proposes new strategies that targeting the BAFF pathway to provide a new treatment for autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune Diseases/drug therapy* ; B-Cell Activating Factor/therapeutic use* ; B-Lymphocytes ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy*

This study was purposed to investigate the B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) levels in bone marrow, and the BAFF receptor expression level on B cells in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, in order to explore the characteristics of B cells in bone marrow of MM patients. MM patients were studied before treatment (newly diagnosed group, 19 patients) and after treatment with improvement (stable group, 17 patients), 10 non-hematologic patients were selected as control (control group). The BAFF receptors (BAFF-R) and transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) on B cell (CD19(+)), naive B cell (CD19(+)IgD(+)) and memory B cell (CD19(+)CD27(+)) of bone marrow in all groups were detected by flow cytometry. The BAFF, APRIL level in bone marrow supernatant were tested with ELISA. The results showed that the BAFF-R expression level on CD19(+) cells in newly diagnosed group were higher than that in stable group and control group; there was no significant difference between the BAFF-R expression level on CD19(+)IgD(+) cells in newly diagnosed group and stable group, but BAFF-R expression level on CD19(+)IgD(+) cells in newly diagnosed group was higher than that in control group; the BAFF-R expression level on CD19(+)CD27(+) cells in newly group was higher than that in stable group and control group; there was no significant difference between the BAFF-R expression level on CD19(+) cells, CD19(+)IgD(+) cells or CD19(+)CD27(+) cells in stable group and control group. There was no significant difference among the TACI expression level on CD19(+) cells, CD19(+)IgD(+) cells or CD19(+)CD27(+) cells in newly diagnosed group, stable group and control group. The bone marrow supernatant BAFF level in newly diagnosed group was higher than that in stable group and control group, but there was no significant difference between stable group and control group. There was no significant difference among the bone marrow TACI levels in newly diagnosed group, stable group and control group. It is concluded that both the bone marrow BAFF level and the BAFF-R expression level on CD19(+) cell, CD19(+)IgD(+) cells and CD19(+)CD27(+) cells in MM patients increase, which may help to stimulate B cells, thereby may relate with to MM pathogenesis.
B-Cell Activating Factor ; metabolism ; B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; pathology

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To investigate the change of B-cell activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) and regulatory T-cells (Tregs) before and after high-dose dexamethasone(HD-DXM) therapy and assess the effect of BAFF on Treg cells in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

<b>METHODSb>The plasma BAFF concentration was measured by ELISA, and Treg cell numbers by flow cytometry.

<b>RESULTSb>The plasma BAFF level \[(599.70 +/- 199.40) pg/ml\] was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the percentage of Treg cells \[(1.56 +/- 0.73)%\] was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in ITP patients before treatment as compared with that in controls \[(454.5 +/- 132.5) pg/ml and (4.08 +/- 1.08)%, respectively\]. After treatment with HD-DXM, the plasma BAFF level \[(296.9 +/- 119.7) pg/ml\] was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the percentage of Treg cells \[(5.94 +/- 2.22)%\] was significantly increased (P < 0.01). The BAFF level and Treg proportion had no significant correlation with platelets count (P > 0.05). In in vitro assays, no difference was found in the number of Treg cells between rhBAFF0 group and rhBAFF20 group \[(1.53 +/- 0.69)%, (1.49 +/- 0.67)%, P = 0.89)\].

<b>CONCLUSIONb>BAFF level was increased and Treg cells decreased in ITP patients. HD-DXM might play a role in ITP treatment by down-regulating BAFF expression and up-regulating Treg cells number. BAFF had no influence on the number of Treg cells.

B-Cell Activating Factor ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To detect potential mutation of the WAS gene in a Chinese family affected with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

<b>METHODSb>Peripheral blood samples were collected from the proband and his family members. All exons and flanking regions of the WAS gene were subjected to PCR amplification - Sanger sequencing as well as restriction endonuclease analysis. Plasma level of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) was also determined for all family members.

<b>RESULTSb>A hemizygous mutation (c.257G>A) of the WAS gene was identified in all patients from the family, for which the patient's mother was heterozygous. The same mutation was not found among healthy members of the family. Compared with unaffected members, all patients had a higher level of BAFF.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>The c.257G>A mutation of the WAS gene probably underlies the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in this family.

B-Cell Activating Factor ; blood ; Child, Preschool ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; genetics ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of plasma exchange in the treatment of patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and to analyze the factors influencing the efficacy of plasma exchange in the treatment of ITP. METHODS: The medical records of 39 ITP patients who were treated effectively by plasma exchange in Huai'an First People's Hospital from January 2013 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were set as the effective group. In addition, the medical records of 39 ITP patients who were treated ineffective by plasma exchange during the same period in our hospital were collected, and they were set as the ineffective group. The general data such as sex and age of patients and laboratory indicators on admission were collected and recorded. The possible influencing factors were included, and Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the influencing factors of efficacy of plasma exchange in the treatment of ITP. RESULTS: The serum levels of IL-6, IL-18 and B lymphocyte activating factor (BAFF) on admission in the ineffective group were significantly higher than those in the effective group, and the proportions of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and splenomegaly were significantly higher than those in the effective group (P<0.05). There was no statistical significantly difference in sex, age and other data between the two groups (P>0.05). After single factor analysis, multiple regression model was established, which showed that splenomegaly, HP infection and the over expression of serum IL-6, IL-18 and BAFF on admission might be the influencing factors of ineffective treatment of ITP by plasma exchange (OR>1, P<0.05). CONCLUSION The over expression of serum IL-6, IL-18, BAFF, splenomegaly and HP infection on admission may be the influencing factors resulting in the ineffective treatment of plasma exchange in ITP.
B-Cell Activating Factor ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; Interleukin-6 ; Plasma Exchange ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenomegaly