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Molecular and Cellular Biology, June 2001, p. 4067-4074, Vol. 21, No. 12
0270-7306/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/MCB.21.12.4067-4074.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

B-Cell Maturation Protein, Which Binds the Tumor Necrosis Factor Family Members BAFF and APRIL, Is Dispensable for Humoral Immune Responses

Shengli Xu and Kong-Peng Lam*

Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore 117609, Republic of Singapore

Received 18 January 2001/Returned for modification 28 February 2001/Accepted 20 March 2001

B-cell maturation protein (BCMA) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family and is expressed in B lymphocytes. BCMA binds two TNF family members, BAFF and APRIL, that stimulate cellular proliferation. BAFF in particular has been shown to influence B-cell survival and activation, and transgenic mice overexpressing BAFF have a lupus-like autoimmune disorder. We have inactivated BCMA in the mouse germ line. BCMA-/- mice have normal B-cell development, and the life span of mutant B lymphocytes is comparable to that of wild-type B cells. The humoral immune responses of BCMA-/- mice to T-cell-independent antigens as well as high and low doses of T-cell-dependent antigens are also intact. In addition, mutant mice have normal splenic architecture, and germinal centers are formed during an ongoing immune response. These data suggest a functional redundancy of BCMA in B-cell physiology that is probably due to the presence of TACI, another TNF receptor family member that is expressed on B cells and that can also bind BAFF and APRIL.


* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 30 Medical Dr., Singapore 117609, Republic of Singapore. Phone: (65) 874 3784. Fax: (65) 779 1117. E-mail: mcblamkp{at}imcb.nus.edu.sg.


Molecular and Cellular Biology, June 2001, p. 4067-4074, Vol. 21, No. 12
0270-7306/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/MCB.21.12.4067-4074.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.



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