TACI expression and signaling in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

J Immunol Res. 2015:2015:478753. doi: 10.1155/2015/478753. Epub 2015 Apr 9.

Abstract

TACI is a membrane receptor of BAFF and APRIL, contributing to the differentiation and survival of normal B cells. Although malignant B cells are also subjected on TACI signaling, there is a remarkable intradisease and interindividual variability of TACI expression in B-cell malignancies. The aim of our study was to explore the possible role of TACI signaling in the biology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including its phenotypic and clinical characteristics and prognosis. Ninety-four patients and 19 healthy controls were studied. CLL patients exhibited variable TACI expression, with the majority of cases displaying low to undetectable TACI, along with low to undetectable BAFF and increased APRIL serum levels compared to healthy controls. CLL cells with high TACI expression displayed a better survival capacity in vitro, when cultured with BAFF and/or APRIL. Moreover, TACI expression was positively correlated with the presence of monoclonal gammopathy and inversely with CD11c expression. Therefore, our study provides further evidence for the contribution of BAFF/APRIL signaling to CLL biology, suggesting also that TACI detection might be useful in the selection of patients for novel targeting therapeutic approaches.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • B-Cell Activating Factor / blood*
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • CD11c Antigen / biosynthesis
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraproteinemias / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein / biosynthesis
  • Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein / blood*
  • Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / blood*

Substances

  • B-Cell Activating Factor
  • CD11c Antigen
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • RNA, Messenger
  • TNFRSF13B protein, human
  • TNFSF13 protein, human
  • TNFSF13B protein, human
  • Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13