APRIL (protein)

A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), also known as tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 13 (TNFSF13), is a protein of the TNF superfamily recognized by the cell surface receptor TACI.^[5][6] It is encoded by the TNFSF13 gene.^[6]

TNFSF13
Available structures PDB Ortholog search: PDBe RCSB List of PDB id codes 4ZCH
Identifiers
Aliases	TNFSF13, APRIL, CD256, TALL-2, TALL2, TRDL-1, ZTNF2, UNQ383/PRO715, TNLG7B, tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 13, TNF superfamily member 13
External IDs	OMIM: 604472; MGI: 1916833; HomoloGene: 56971; GeneCards: TNFSF13; OMA:TNFSF13 - orthologs
Gene location (Human) Chr. Chromosome 17 (human)[1] Band 17p13.1 Start 7,558,292 bp[1] End 7,561,608 bp[1]
Gene location (Mouse) Chr. Chromosome 11 (mouse)[2] Band 11|11 B3 Start 69,573,672 bp[2] End 69,576,610 bp[2]
RNA expression pattern Bgee Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed in monocyte granulocyte duodenum mucosa of transverse colon gallbladder blood right lung upper lobe of left lung human kidney rectum Top expressed in layer of retina neural layer of retina colon ileum jejunum duodenum granulocyte lung esophagus bone marrow More reference expression data BioGPS n/a
Gene ontology Molecular function signaling receptor binding tumor necrosis factor receptor binding cytokine activity Cellular component cytosol membrane nucleoplasm cytoplasm extracellular exosome extracellular region extracellular space Biological process tumor necrosis factor-mediated signaling pathway regulation of mRNA stability positive regulation of cell population proliferation immune system process signal transduction positive regulation of isotype switching to IgA isotypes immune response regulation of signaling receptor activity Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs Species Human Mouse Entrez 8741 69583 Ensembl ENSG00000161955 ENSMUSG00000089669 UniProt O75888 Q9D777 RefSeq (mRNA) NM_001198622 NM_001198623 NM_001198624 NM_003808 NM_172087 NM_172088 NM_001159505 NM_023517 RefSeq (protein) NP_001185551 NP_001185552 NP_001185553 NP_003799 NP_742084 NP_742085 NP_001152977 NP_076006 Location (UCSC) Chr 17: 7.56 – 7.56 Mb Chr 11: 69.57 – 69.58 Mb PubMed search [3] [4]
Wikidata
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Nomenclature

In the cluster of differentiation terminology, APRIL is designated CD256.

Function

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the tumor necrosis factor ligand (TNF) ligand family. This protein is a ligand for TNFRSF17/BCMA, a member of the TNF receptor family. This protein and its receptor are both found to be important for B cell development. In vivo experiments suggest an important role for APRIL in the long-term survival of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Mice deficient in APRIL have normal immune system development.^[7] However, APRIL-deficient mice have also been reported to possess a reduced ability to support plasma cell survival.^[8] In vitro experiments suggested that this protein may be able to induce apoptosis through its interaction with other TNF receptor family proteins such as TNFRSF6/FAS and TNFRSF14/HVEM.^[9] Three alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

Interactions

TNFSF13 has been shown to interact with TNFRSF13B^[10] and B-cell activating factor.^[11]

Clinical significance

APRIL is being explored as a target for autoimmune diseases and B cell malignancies.^[12] At least one anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody has been announced to enter phase I clinical trials for multiple myeloma.^[13]