Impact of NF-κB and reactive oxygen species on intracellular BAFF/ APRIL expression in ANCA-associated vasculitis: focusing on the effect of resveratrol

Yasuhiro Shimojima^*Dai KishidaTakanori IchikawaYoshiki Sekijima

• Department of Medicine (Neurology and Rheumatology), School of Medicine, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan

We previously demonstrated the efficacy of resveratrol (RVL) in restoring the function of regulatory T cells in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). This study examined the effects of RVL on the expression of B-cell activation factor of the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) in monocytes as well as their related signaling factors in patients with AAV. This study used peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 35 patients with AAV and 22 healthy controls. After incubating PBMCs with and without RVL or tempol, BAFF, APRIL, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in CD14+ cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. Additionally, BAFF and APRIL in CD14+ cells were assessed in PBMCs treated with the NF-κB inhibitor, SN50. Significantly higher BAFF, APRIL, ROS, and NF-κB expression were observed in CD14+ cells in patients with AAV than in healthy controls. In CD14+ cells treated with RVL, patients with AAV exhibited significant increases in BAFF and NF-κB expression but significant decreases in APRIL and ROS expression. In patients with AAV, there was a positive correlation between NF-κB and BAFF in CD14+ cells, regardless of RVL treatment. Patients with AAV showed a significant decrease in APRIL expression without significant changes in BAFF expression in CD14+ cells treated with tempol; whereas there was a significant decrease in BAFF and APRIL expression in CD14+ cells treated with SN50. NF-κB may be a crucial signaling factor in BAFF production. RVL induces BAFF expression in monocytes by stimulating NF-κB in AAV, while its redox reaction reduces APRIL expression.