TNFSF13B

Encoded by TNFSF13B gene, TNF superfamily member 13b, also known as THANK, DTL and BAFF, encodes a cytokine that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. TNFSF13B is a protein with the molecular weight of 285 kD. It undergoes glycosylation and is expressed as membrane type ll transmembrane protein on a variety of cells. TNFSF13B is a ligand binding to receptors TNFRSF13B/TACI, TNFRSF17/BCMA, and TNFRSF13C/BAFFR. All of these have different binding affinities for TNFSF13B.TNFSF13B is reported to be active as either a hetero-or homotrimer. It can aggregate into 60–mer depending on the primary structure of the protein.
It has been also shown to play an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of B cells. It is required for the generation and maintenance of mature peripheral B cells. Expression of transgenic BAFF leads to the enlargement of the spleens and lymph nodes and causes autoimmunity associated with increased mature B cells of an activated phenotype, as well as the production of autoantibodies
TNFSF13B plays an important role in maintaining normal immunity. B cells will not be activated to produce enough immunoglobulin when there is an inadequate level of TNFSF13B. By contrast, excessive TNFSF13B leads to abnormally high antibody production which results in several autoimmune diseases.
Entrez Gene ID: 10673
UniProt ID: 10673