Serum BAFF Levels In Patients Research Articles

B-cell activating factor deficiency suppresses splenomegaly during Leishmania donovani infection

B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a critical regulator for B-cell development and differentiation. We previously reported elevation of serum BAFF levels in patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In this study, we examined if BAFF is involved in pathologies during infection of Leishmania donovani. BALB/cA mice infected with L. donovani showed significant elevation in serum BAFF and IgG levels as seen in VL patients. In contrast, elevation of serum IgG by L. donovani infection was significantly suppressed in BAFF-deficient mice. The spleen weight of the BAFF-deficient mice after infection was significantly lower than that of the infected wild-type mice, whereas comparable degree of hepatomegaly and anemia were observed in those mice. In the enlarged spleen of L. donovani-infected wild-type mice, increase of CD19+ lymphocytes was more prominent than that of CD3+ cells, suggesting the contribution of B cell increase to splenomegaly during VL. Besides, increase of CD19+ lymphocytes was not found in BAFF-deficient mice after L. donovani infection. Taken together, these results suggest that BAFF is involved in strong B cell activation, which has a pathological role in splenomegaly but not in hepatomegaly or anemia, during VL.

Serum B cell-activating factor (BAFF) level in connective tissue disease associated interstitial lung disease.

BackgroundInterstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are common in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Although the diagnosis of an underlying CTD in ILD (CTD-ILD) affects both prognosis and treatment, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish CTD-ILD from chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia (CFIP). B cell–activating factor belonging to the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) plays a crucial role in B cell development, survival, and antibody production.MethodsWe examined serum levels of BAFF, surfactant protein D (SP-D), and Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in 33 patients with CTD-ILD, 16 patients with undifferentiated CTD-ILD, 19 patients with CFIP, and 26 healthy volunteers. And we analysed the relationship between serum BAFF levels and pulmonary function, as well as the expression of BAFF in the lung tissue of patients with CTD-ILD.ResultsSerum levels of BAFF were significantly higher in CTD-ILD patients compared to healthy subjects and CFIP patients. However, there were no significant differences in serum levels of SP-D and KL-6. Furthermore, serum BAFF levels in CTD-ILD patients were inversely correlated with pulmonary function. BAFF was strongly expressed in the lungs of CTD-ILD patients, but weakly in normal lungs.DiscussionThis is the first study to demonstrate that serum BAFF levels were significantly higher in CTD-ILD patients compared to healthy subjects and CFIP patients. Furthermore, serum BAFF levels were correlated with pulmonary function. We consider that serum BAFF levels in patients with CTD-ILD reflect the presence of ILDs disease activity and severity.ConclusionThese finding suggest that BAFF may be a useful marker for distinguishing CTD-ILD from CFIP.

Serum B-cell Activating Factor in Myecloperoxiase-antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies-associated Vasculitis

BackgroundIn this study, the serum B-cell activating factor belonging to tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) levels in patients with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) were measured, and their clinical significance was further analyzed. MethodsOne hundred twenty-one patients with MPO-AAV were enrolled in this study. Eighty-three patients had active vasculitis and 38 were in remission. Fifty-five healthy individuals were used as healthy controls. The levels of serum BAFF were assessed using commercial available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The correlations between serum BAFF and Birmingham Vasculitis Activity score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and MPO-ANCA were further evaluated. ResultsThe levels of serum BAFF of patients with MPO-AAV in both active (6.06 ± 5.02ng/mL) and remission phases (3.60 ± 3.83ng/mL) were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (0.87 ± 0.31ng/mL) (P < 0.001, respectively). The serum BAFF levels in patients with active vasculitis were significantly higher than those in remission (P < 0.001). serum BAFF levels were significantly correlated with Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (r = 0.320, P < 0.001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate value (r = 0.311, P < 0.01) in all patients, but no correlation was found between the levels of serum BAFF and MPO-ANCA. Using receiver-operating characteristics statistics, the cutoff values of serum BAFF level for indicating the presence of MPO-AAV and active vasculitis were 1.58 and 4.20ng/mL, respectively. ConclusionsThe levels of serum BAFF were elevated in patients with MPO-AAV and associated with disease activity, but they were not related with the levels of MPO-ANCA.

B-Cell Activating Factor Levels in Saliva and Serum before and after Treatment of Oral Infections

ABSTRACTBackgroundB-cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) levels may increase in response to oral infections. The aim of the study was to evaluate saliva and serum BAFF levels in patients with oral infection and to monitor them after dental treatments.Materials and methodsFifteen patients with an oral infection foci including pericoronitis (n = 7) and irreversible pulpitis (n = 8) (F/M:10/5 mean age: 39.8 ± 7.2 years) were selected for the study. All patients were examined pretreatment period immediately and a week after endodontic treatment or oral surgical treatment. Unstimulated saliva and serum samples were collected from patients in these periods. Salivary and serum BAFF levels were measured by ELISA method (Bender, Medsystems, Viena, Austria).ResultsSince BAFF levels were similar in patients with irreversible pulpitis and pericoronitis (p &gt; 0.05), two groups were combined in the study. Pretreatment salivary (median: 7.09 ng/ml) and serum BAFF levels (3.28 ng/ml) were significantly decreased after elimination of infection focus by endodontic or oral surgical treatments (0.37vs0.0) (p = 0.028 and 0.002). Saliva and serum BAFF levels were not correlated in preand post-treatment periods (p &gt; 0.05).ConclusionSalivary and serum BAFF levels of patients with oral infections could be decreased by endodontic or oral surgical treatments.How to cite this articleKaracayli U, Yilmaz N, Bicakcigil M, Cimilli H, Yavuz S, Mumcu G. B-Cell Activating Factor Levels in Saliva and Serum before and after Treatment of Oral Infections. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2014;3(2):63-66.

Baff (B cell activating factor) can be the clinical marker in myasthenia gravis

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an antibody mediated disease in which the target autoantigen is the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction. B cell activating factor (BAFF) is the potent B cell survival factor and is necessary for peripheral B cell differentiation and maturation. Excess BAFF promotes the survival and growth of autoreactive B cells. The previous studies have shown that serum BAFF levels in patients with MG are higher than in control subjects. BAFF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of MG.

Elevated serum BAFF levels in patients with sarcoidosis: association with disease activity

The purpose of this study was to determine serum levels of B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) and its clinical association in patients with sarcoidosis. METHODS; Serum levels of BAFF from 37 patients and 21 healthy subjects were examined by ELISA. Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), lysozyme and IFN-γ levels in sarcoidosis patients were also measured. Isolated monocytes cultured with IFN-γ, IL-4 or IL-10 and their expression of membrane and soluble BAFF were analysed by flow cytometry or ELISA. Peripheral B cell subsets were analysed by flow cytometry. BAFF expression in the granuloma of the skin was examined by immunohistochemistry. ANAs were determined by indirect IF using HEp-2 cells as a substrate. Serum BAFF levels were significantly elevated in sarcoidosis patients when compared with healthy controls. The frequency of skin and eye involvement was significantly higher in patients with elevated serum BAFF than in patients with normal levels. Serum BAFF levels were correlated with serum levels of ACE, lysozyme and IFN-γ. Immunostaining of anti-BAFF in the skin revealed BAFF expression by epithelioid cells of granuloma. In vitro, IFN-γ induced membrane-bound BAFF expression on monocytes and secretion of soluble BAFF by isolated monocytes. In the peripheral blood, sarcoidosis patients showed increased naïve B cells with a reciprocal decrease in memory B cells and plasmablasts. Seventeen of 26 (65%) sarcoidosis patients exhibited ANA positivity. Serum BAFF levels can be used as a surrogate marker of disease activity in sarcoidosis patients. Increased BAFF may be related to the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

B cell-activating factor is associated with the histological severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

B cell-activating factor (BAFF) is expressed in adipocytes and affects lipogenesis and insulin sensitivity. In addition, the BAFF receptor is expressed in visceral adipose tissue and liver. The aim of this study was to analyze serum BAFF levels in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and simple steatosis (SS) and to compare their respective clinical and histological findings. A total of 96 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (20 with SS and 76 with NASH) were enrolled and their serum BAFF levels were analyzed. Comprehensive blood chemistry analysis and histological examination of liver samples were also conducted. Serum BAFF levels were higher in patients with NASH than in those with SS (p=0.016). NASH patients with ballooning hepatocytes and advanced fibrosis had higher levels of BAFF in sera (p=0.016 and p=0.006, respectively). In addition, the prevalence of NASH increased significantly as the serum BAFF level increased (p=0.004). Higher serum BAFF levels were found to be an independent risk factor for development of NASH (OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.0003-1.006; p=0.047). Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients had higher levels of serum BAFF than patients with SS, and higher levels were associated with the presence of hepatocyte ballooning and advanced fibrosis. The serum BAFF level may be a useful tool for distinguishing NASH from SS.

Alteration in serum B cell‐activating factor levels inpatients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura after Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy

Alteration in serum B cell‐activating factor levels inpatients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura after <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> eradication therapy

Elevated serum BAFF levels in patients with autoimmune hepatitis

Serum cytokines are thought to be involved in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) pathogenesis via immune dysregulation. B-cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily and is known for its role in the survival and maturation of B cells. The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum levels of BAFF in patients with AIH and determine its relation to the clinical features of AIH. We examined serum BAFF levels in 55 patients with AIH, 14 patients with acute hepatitis (AH), 33 patients with chronic hepatitis C, and 33 healthy subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Liver function tests, quantitative immunoglobulin, and antinuclear antibody levels were also assayed in AIH patients. Serum BAFF levels were elevated in AIH patients compared with healthy subjects (AIH: 2.07+/-1.21 pg/ml, control: 0.77+/-0.22 pg/ml). Similarly, serum BAFF levels were significantly higher in AIH patients compared with AH or chronic hepatitis C patients. There was a positive correlation between BAFF and aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.513, p<0.0001), alanine aminotransferase (r=0.435, p<0.0001), total bilirubin (r=0.419, p<0.01), and soluble CD30 (r=0.579, p<0.0001) in AIH patients. However, there was no correlation between BAFF and levels of gammaglobulins or titer of antinuclear antibodies. Corticosteroid treatment resulted in marked reduction in serum BAFF levels in AIH patients. These results suggest that BAFF contributes to liver injury and disease development in AIH patients.

High‐level serum B‐cell activating factor and promoter polymorphisms in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder in which platelets are opsonised by autoantibodies and destroyed by macrophages. Therefore, ITP represents a prototype of a B-cell-mediated autoimmune disorder. B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a member of the tumour necrosis factor family and an important regulator of B-cell development. BAFF levels were determined in serum samples from 53 patients with ITP. Serum BAFF levels in patients with an active ITP were increased when compared with the healthy control group (median 1620 pg/ml vs. 977 pg/ml; P < 0.001). Moreover, immunosuppressive treatment was associated with strongly suppressed BAFF levels (median 629 pg/ml; P < 0.01). In addition, a polymorphic site was detected in the BAFF promoter region (-871) that appeared to occur more frequently in ITP patients than in healthy persons. This promoter variant was associated with very high BAFF levels in ITP patients. Our data suggest that BAFF is an important pathogenetic factor in the development of ITP.

Elevated serum BAFF levels in patients with localized scleroderma in contrast to other organ‐specific autoimmune diseases

Serum levels of B-cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF), a potent B-cell survival factor, are elevated in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis (SSc). The objective of this study was to determine serum BAFF levels and relate the results to the clinical features in patients with organ-specific autoimmune diseases of the skin, such as localized scleroderma and autoimmune bullous diseases. Serum BAFF levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 44 patients with localized scleroderma, 20 with pemphigus vulgaris/pemphigus foliaceus, 20 with bullous pemphigoid and 30 healthy controls. Twenty patients with SSc and 20 with SLE were also examined as disease controls. Serum BAFF levels were elevated in localized scleroderma patients compared with healthy controls. Concerning localized scleroderma subgroups, patients with generalized morphea, the severest form of localized scleroderma, had higher serum BAFF levels than linear scleroderma or morphea patients. The BAFF levels of generalized morphea were comparable with those of SSc or SLE. Furthermore, serum BAFF levels correlated positively with antihistone antibody levels and the severity of skin lesion as well as the number of skin lesions. By contrast, serum BAFF levels were not significantly elevated in patients with pemphigus or pemphigoid. These results suggest that BAFF may be contributing to autoimmunity and disease development in localized scleroderma.

B-lymphocyte activating factor in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in relation to autoantibody levels, disease measures and time

Overexpression of B-lymphocyte activating factor (BAFF) results in arthritis, glomerulonephritis and autoantibody formation in mice, but its role in human autoimmune disease is less obvious. Serum BAFF levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n=42) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n=60) were related to levels of disease activity, anti-dsDNA Ab, anti-ENA Ab, rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-CCP Ab. BAFF levels were also followed over time in 19 SLE patients. BAFF levels correlated inversely with age, were higher in SLE than RA (median 2.7 versus 1.4 ng/mL, P < 0.01) and more SLE than RA patients had increased BAFF levels (57% versus 10%, P < or = 0.01). In SLE, BAFF levels correlated with SLEDAI scores but not with anti-dsDNA Ab levels. SLE patients with increased BAFF levels had higher SLEDAI and CRP levels. In RA, BAFF levels correlated weakly with anti-CCP levels (Rs 0.27, P = 0.07), but not with joint counts, ESR, CRP or RF levels. Longitudinal BAFF levels remained unaltered in two thirds of SLE patients and changes in BAFF levels were unrelated to disease flares. These findings suggest that BAFF stimulation of B-cells may contribute to SLE by other mechanisms than autoantibody production.

Elevated serum BAFF levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: Enhanced BAFF signaling in systemic sclerosis B lymphocytes

To determine serum levels of BAFF, a potent B cell survival factor, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and relate the results to the clinical features of SSc. Serum BAFF levels in 83 patients with SSc were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In a longitudinal study, 131 serum samples obtained from 21 patients with SSc were analyzed. The expression of BAFF messenger RNA (mRNA) in the skin was quantified by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The expression of BAFF receptor (BAFFR) on CD19+ B cells was assessed by flow cytometry. The production of IgG and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by isolated B cells was examined by ELISA. Serum BAFF levels were elevated in SSc patients compared with healthy controls and correlated positively with the extent of skin fibrosis. Among the 21 patients with SSc in the longitudinal study, 7 had decreased BAFF levels, 11 had levels that remained unchanged, and 3 patients had increased levels. Decreasing BAFF levels were accompanied by regression of skin sclerosis, whereas increasing levels of BAFF were associated with the new onset or worsening of organ involvement. BAFF mRNA expression was up-regulated in the affected skin of patients with early diffuse cutaneous SSc. BAFFR expression on B cells was increased in SSc patients relative to healthy controls. Furthermore, SSc B cells that were stimulated by BAFF exhibited an enhanced ability to produce IgG and IL-6. These results suggest that BAFF and its signaling in B cells contribute to B cell abnormalities and disease development in patients with SSc.