Description
APRIL is expressed by a number of myeloid-derived cell types including BM granulocytes, megakaryocytes, eosinophils and osteoclasts and by dendritic cells following exposure to IFNα, IFNγ or CD40L. APRIL expression is induced during hematopoiesis in the bone marrow. APRIL expression is not limited to cells of myeloid origin, but can also be found in epithelial cells of the gut, tonsil, breast and skin. Finally, APRIL is expressed in tumor cell lines and human cancer cells of colon, thyroid and lymphoid origin. The B cell-stimulating molecules, BAFF (B cell activating factor) and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand), are implicated in several human autoimmune diseases with autoreactive B cell involvement, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). APRIL might also function in enhancing proliferation of some tumor cells, especially B-cell malignancies