Pathological RANK signaling in B cells drives autoimmunity and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

ABSTRACT: Clinical evidence suggests alterations in receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) signaling are key contributors to B cell autoimmunity and malignancy, but the pathophysiological consequences of aberrant B cell-intrinsic RANK signaling remain unknown. We generated mice that express a human lymphoma-derived, hyperactive RANKK240E variant in B lymphocytes in vivo. Forced RANK signaling disrupted B cell tolerance and induced a fully penetrant systemic lupus erythematosus-like disease in addition to the development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Importantly, RANKK240E transgenic CLL cells as well as CLL cells of independent murine and of human origin depend on microenvironmental RANK ligand (RANKL) for tumor cell survival. Consequently, inhibition of the RANKL-RANK axis with anti-RANKL anti

SUBMITTER: Alankus B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7868734 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature