BAFF activates Erk1/2 promoting cell proliferation and survival by Ca2+-CaMKII-dependent inhibition of PP2A in normal and neoplastic B-lymphoid cells.

B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is involved in not only the physiology of normal B cells, but also the pathophysiology of aggressive B cells related to malignant and autoimmune diseases. However, how excessive BAFF promotes aggressive B-cell proliferation and survival is not well understood. Here we show that excessive human soluble BAFF (hsBAFF) enhanced cell proliferation and survival in normal and B-lymphoid (Raji) cells, which was associated with suppression of PP2A, resulting in activation of Erk1/2.

Molecular cloning, expression, bioinformatics analysis, and bioactivity of TNFSF13 (APRIL) in the South African clawed frog (Xenopus laevi): a new model to study immunological diseases.

TNFSF13 is one of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily members that plays important roles in immune homeostasis and proliferation or apoptosis of certain tumor cell lines. This report describes the development of Xenopus laevis TNFSF13 as a model to study its important role in relation to immunological diseases. In brief, TNFSF13 from Xenopus laevis (designated XlTNFSF13) was first amplified by RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) techniques.

hsBAFF promotes proliferation and survival in cultured B lymphocytes via calcium signaling activation of mTOR pathway.

B-cell activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF, also called BLyS, TALL-1, THANK, or zTNF4) has revealed its critical function in B lymphocyte proliferation and survival, as well as the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. However, the molecular mechanisms of excess BAFF-extended aggressive B lymphocytes have not been completely defined. Here we show that excessive hsBAFF-elevated [Ca(2+)]i activated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, leading to proliferation and survival in B lymphocytes.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of TNFSF14 (LIGHT) gene in mefugu, Takifugu obscurus.

LIGHT/TNFSF14 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily, which plays important roles in inflammatory and immune responses. In this study, the cDNA of mefugu (Takifugu obscures) LIGHT (designated as fLIGHT) was amplified from spleen by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The open reading frame of fLIGHT covers 765 bp and translates into a 254-aa protein.