T cell Dissimilarities in B Cell Activating Factor-Deficient Versus B Cell Activating Factor Receptor 3-Deficient Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Prone NZM 2328 Mice as Contributors to Their Divergent Clinical Outcomes.

cells may have more to do with their divergent clinical outcomes than do differences in numbers of B cells. These unexpected findings suggest that B cell activating factor (BAFF)-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) or BAFF-Transmembrane activator and calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) interactions may help drive development of clinical systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) even under conditions of considerable B cell depletion. Insufficient blocking of BAFF-BCMA and BAFF-TACI interactions may lie at the heart of incomplete clinical response to BAFF-targeting agents in human SLE.