Abstract
The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily of cytokines includes both soluble and membrane-bound proteins that regulate immune responses. A member of the human TNF family, BLyS (B lymphocyte stimulator), was identified that induced B cell proliferation and immunoglobulin secretion. BLyS expression on human monocytes could be up-regulated by interferon-gamma. Soluble BLyS functioned as a potent B cell growth factor in costimulation assays. Administration of soluble recombinant BLyS to mice disrupted splenic B and T cell zones and resulted in elevated serum immunoglobulin concentrations. The B cell tropism of BLyS is consistent with its receptor expression on B-lineage cells. The biological profile of BLyS suggests it is involved in monocyte-driven B cell activation.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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B-Cell Activating Factor
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B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor
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B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
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B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Cell Line
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Cells, Cultured
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Humans
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Immunoglobulins / blood
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Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
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Lymphocyte Activation*
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Membrane Proteins / chemistry
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / pharmacology
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Membrane Proteins / physiology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Monocytes / immunology*
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Receptors, Cytokine / metabolism
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / metabolism
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Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
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Sequence Alignment
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Species Specificity
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / chemistry
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / physiology*
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Up-Regulation
Substances
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B-Cell Activating Factor
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B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor
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BLyS receptor
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Immunoglobulins
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Membrane Proteins
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Receptors, Cytokine
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
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Recombinant Proteins
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TNFRSF13C protein, human
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TNFSF13B protein, human
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Tnfrsf13c protein, mouse
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Tnfsf13b protein, mouse
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Interferon-gamma