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Originally published online as doi:10.2353/ajpath.2008.071139 on April 10, 2008

Published online before print April 10, 2008
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(American Journal of Pathology. 2008;172:1303-1311.)
© 2008 American Society for Investigative Pathology
DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.071139

Signaling Pathways for B Cell-Activating Factor (BAFF) and a Proliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL) in Human Placenta

Daudi L. Langat, David A. Wheaton, Jeralyn Sue Platt, Travis Sifers and Joan S. Hunt

From the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas

The tumor necrosis superfamily (TNFSF) contains two soluble ligands that are involved in B lymphocyte development, BAFF (B cell activating factor, BlyS, TALL-1, CD257, TNFSF13B) and APRIL (a proliferation inducing ligand, CD256, TNFSF13). These two ligands signal through three receptors: the exclusive BAFF receptor (BAFF-R, CD268, TNFRSF17) and two receptors that recognize both BAFF and APRIL, TACI (transmembrane-activator-1 and calcium-modulator- and cyclophilin ligand-interactor CD267, TNFRSF13B) and BCMA (B cell maturation antigen, CD269, TNFRSF13C). All but BAFF-R are known to be synthesized in term placentas. In this study, expression of the ligands and receptors were distinguished in two embryologically discrete subpopulations of placental cells, villous cytotrophoblast (vCTB) cells and mesenchymal cells (MCs). Real-Time PCR showed that vCTB cells contain low levels of BAFF and APRIL transcripts whereas MCs contain high levels. Both Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry identified BAFF-R and BCMA mRNA and proteins in vCTB cells but essentially no TACI. By contrast, MCs contained readily detectable levels of all three receptors. These results illustrating potential autocrine and paracrine pathways for BAFF and APRIL signaling in human placentas suggest that lineage-specific regulation of placental cell viability, differentiation and/or other activities may be novel functions of these proteins.






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