HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zheng, Y. Articles by Monestier, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Zheng, Y. Articles by Monestier, M.

A Role for B Cell-Activating Factor of the TNF Family in Chemically Induced Autoimmunity¹

Yan Zheng^*, Stefania Gallucci, John P. Gaughan, Jane A. Gross and Marc Monestier^2,*

^* Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Biostatistics, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140; Division of Rheumatology, Joseph Jr. Strokes Research Institute, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and Department of Immunology, ZymoGenetics, Seattle, WA 98102

After exposure to subtoxic doses of heavy metals such as mercury, H-2^s mice develop an autoimmune syndrome consisting of the rapid production of IgG autoantibodies that are highly specific for nucleolar autoantigens and a polyclonal increase in serum IgG1 and IgE. In this study, we observe that HgCl₂ administration in susceptible mice results in the elevated production of B cell-activating factor of the TNF family ((BAFF) also known as BLyS, TALL-1, zTNF-4, THANK, and TNSF13B), a B cell growth factor belonging to the TNF family. A transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI)-Ig fusion protein (which neutralizes both BAFF and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), another TNF family member) inhibited Hg-induced autoantibody or serum IgE production. These results are discussed in the context of the inhibitory effect of TACI-Ig on B cell maturation at the transitional stage.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. K. Chang, S. A. Mihalcik, and D. F. Jelinek B Lymphocyte Stimulator Regulates Adaptive Immune Responses by Directly Promoting Dendritic Cell Maturation J. Immunol., June 1, 2008; 180(11): 7394 - 7403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. Romero, J. C. Muino, G. A. Bianco, M. Ferrero, C. P. Juarez, J. D. Luna, and G. A. Rabinovich Circulating Anti-galectin-1 Antibodies Are Associated with the Severity of Ocular Disease in Autoimmune and Infectious Uveitis. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., April 1, 2006; 47(4): 1550 - 1556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]