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The TNF-like ligands APRIL and BLyS are close relatives and share the capacity to bind the receptors TACI and BCMA.BLyS has been shown to play an important role in B cell homeostasis and autoimmunity, but the biological role of APRIL remains less well defined.Analysis of T cells revealed an activation-dependent increase in APRIL mRNA expression.We therefore generated mice expressing APRIL as a transgene in T cells.These mice appeared normal and showed no signs of B cell hyperplasia.Transgenic T cells revealed a greatly enhanced survival in vitro as well as enhanced survival of staphylococcal enterotoxin B-reactive CD4 + T cells in vivo, which both directly correlate with elevated Bcl-2 levels.Analysis of humoral responses to T cell-dependent antigens in the transgenic mice indicated that APRIL affects only IgM but not IgG responses.In contrast, T cell-independent type 2 (TI-2) humoral response was enhanced in APRIL transgenic mice.As TACI was previously reported to be indispensable for TI-2 antibody formation, these results suggest a role for APRIL/TACI interactions in the generation of this response.Taken together, our data indicate that APRIL is involved in the induction and/or maintenance of T and B cell responses.
Stein et al. (Sat,) studied this question.
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