Signal Transduction by Receptors for BAFF and APRIL

Abstract

AbstractThe cytokines B-cell-activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) and A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) stimulate several of the major signaling cascades responsible for B-cell homeostasis. Transmitting these stimuli to the intracellular milieu are the receptors B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI), and BAFF receptor (BAFFR). While evidence for the activation of several nuclear-independent pathways is accumulating, the most consistent, reproducibly detectable molecular effect of stimulating cells with BAFF or APRIL is activation of the NF-κB family of transcription factors. Here, we will summarize the current state of knowledge about BAFF and APRIL signaling; from the membrane-proximal events that are distinct to BCMA, TACI, and BAFFR to the differences in the downstream pathway types and kinetics that are manifest in the phenotypic extremes of their respective knockout mouse models.KeywordsBAFFAPRILBAFFRTACIBCMATRAFNF-κBB lymphocyteSignal transduction