B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) as a Biomarker and Potential Treatment Target in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

ABSTRACT: The BAFF-APRIL system is crucial for the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by promoting B cell survival, differentiation and the maintenance of humoral autoimmunity. Here, we investigated the relationship of BCMA expression on B cell subsets with its ligands BAFF and APRIL, together with soluble BCMA, and with clinical and serologic variables in a cohort of 100 SLE patients (86 under conventional and 14 under belimumab therapy) and 30 healthy controls (HCs) using multicolor flow cytometry and ELISA. We found that BCMA expression in SLE patients was significantly increased on all B cell subsets compared to HCs, with all examined components of the BAFF-APRIL system being upregulated. BCMA expression was significantly increased on switched and unswitched memory B cells compar

SUBMITTER: Martin J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11476889 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature