BAFF and TACI Gene Expression Are Increased in Patients with Untreated Very Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Disturbances in the expression of B cell-related activation and survival genes, particularly BAFF and TACI, occur from the onset of RA and precede changes in BAFF-R. These alterations can lead to the development of autoreactive B cells from the first weeks of RA onset.

01.06 B-cell phenotype and igd-cd27- memory b cells are affected by tnf-inhibitors and tocilizumab treatment in rheumatoid arthritis

“…B cells have a critical role in the development of RA [2]. In fact, recent studies by our group have demonstrated that very early RA patients (with less than 6 weeks of disease duration) have disturbances in circulating memory B cells [3], increased levels of cytokines and B cell gene expression levels relevant for B cell maturation [4][5][6], which supports an active role of B cells in RA pathogenesis from early disease onset. This is reinforced by the therapeutic efficacy of rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that specifically depletes B cells [7].…”

“…The significantly increased BAFF-R, TACI and TLR9 B cell gene expression levels observed in established RA patients under MTX treatment when compared to ERA and controls support a relevant role of BAFF and T-cell independent mechanisms in B cell activation, particularly at later stages of RA development [4,6,63,64]. Nevertheless, no significant differences were found at a protein level for BAFF-R and TACI MFI values, except for TLR9, whose expression was significantly increased in established RA when compared to controls.…”

Expression of B Cell Activating Factor (BAFF) and BAFF-binding Receptors in Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…The study found differences in gene expression of BAFF, BAFF-binding receptors (BAFF-R and TACI), and other B cell-related genes between patients with early and with established RA and HC 4 . BAFF-R gene expression was increased in patients with ERA and in established RA when compared with HC, but not in VERA or ERA.…”

The Roles of the TNF-Family Member B-Cell Activation Factor Belonging to the TNF-Family (BAFF) in Autoimmunity

“…However, in another study, the BAFF-R expression on peripheral B cells increased with disease progression (very early, early and established RA) and the TACI expression on peripheral B cells increased in all stages of RA patients [87]. Thus, elevated BAFF in serum and synovial tissue of RA was demonstrated, but the BAFF-R expression varied.…”