BAFF Antibody

The B cell activating factor BAFF (BlyS/TALL-1/zTNF4) is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related ligand that promotes B cell survival and binds to three receptors (BCMA, TACI, and the recently described BAFFR). BAFF was regularly detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in brain tissue lysates and in normal spinal fluid, and in astrocytes by double fluorescence microscopy. It is localized in astrocytes close to BAFFR-expressing immune cells. BAFF receptors were strongly expressed in situ in primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas. The protein plays an important role in humoral immunity and in autoimmune diseases, including RA. Local gene targeting inhibited proinflammatory cytokine expression, suppressed generation of plasma cells and Th17 cells, and markedly ameliorated joint pathology.