To investigate the expression of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and its specific receptor BAFF-R in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) and to analyze the correlations between BAFF and the development of B-NHL.

RTQ-PCR and Western blot assay were used to measure the expression of BAFF and its specific receptor BAFF-R in patients with B-NHL. Fluorescence immunocytochemical staining was used to determine the localization of BAFF and BAFF-R in Raji cells, a B-NHL cell line. The expression of BAFF in tumor tissues from patients with B-NHL of different histologic subtypes was measured by immunohistochemistry. WST proliferation and TUNEL assays were used to evaluate the effects of BAFF and BAFF-R on the proliferation, survival rate and apoptosis of Raji cells. Linear correlations between the concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the expression of BAFF and BAFF at mRNA and protein levels in patients with B-NHL were analyzed.

BAFF and its specific receptor BAFF-R were expressed in Raji cells and played an important role in the survival and proliferation of B-NHL cell line. The expression of BAFF in tumor cells from patients with B-NHL varied with the different histologic subtypes of B-NHL. Patients with small B-cell malignant lymphoma, large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT lymphoma) and follicular lymphoma showed higher levels of BAFF, while those with mantle cell lymphoma showed lower levels of BAFF. Compared with the healthy subjects, patients with B-NHL showed significantly increased expression of BAFF at mRNA and protein levels. The levels of LDH were closely related to the expression of BAFF at mRNA and protein levels.

BAFF and its specific receptor BAFF-R might play an important role in the growth and survival of malignant B cells.

B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(B-NHL); B cell-activating factor (BAFF); BAFF receptor (BAFF-R); Lactate dehydrogenase