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closeReferences missing
Posted by AndreasTs on 28 Apr 2014 at 10:23 GMT
We have already published in J Immunol. 2009 Nov 1;183(9):5948-56. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0901186. Epub 2009 Oct 14. "Adipocytes as immune cells: differential expression of TWEAK, BAFF, and APRIL and their receptors (Fn14, BAFF-R, TACI, and BCMA) at different stages of normal and pathological adipose tissue development". Alexaki VI, Notas G, Pelekanou V, Kampa M, Valkanou M, Theodoropoulos P, Stathopoulos EN, Tsapis A, Castanas E.
In this paper, we report the differential expression of TNF-superfamily members B cell activating factor of the TNF Family (BAFF), a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL), and TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in immature-appearing and mature adipocytes and in benign and malignant adipose tissue-derived tumors. These ligands act through their cognitive receptors, BAFF receptor, transmembrane activator and calcium signal-modulating cyclophilic ligand (TACI), B cell maturation Ag (BCMA), and fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), which are also expressed in these cells. We further report the existence of functional BCMA, TACI, and Fn14 receptors and their ligands BAFF, APRIL, and TWEAK on adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal cells, their interaction modifying the rate of adipogenesis. Our data integrate BAFF, APRIL, and TWEAK and their receptors BCMA, TACI, and Fn14 as novel potential mediators of adipogenesis, in addition to their specific role in immunity, and define immature and mature adipocytes as source of immune mediators.
Furthermore we have published several papers, in which we have evidenced the presence of fuctional receptors for BAFF and APRIL in several organs as kidney, liver, and tissues as skin. (Notas G et al, J Immunol. 2012 Nov 15;189(10):4748-58. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102891. Epub 2012 Oct 15; Alexaki VI et al, Endocrinology. 2012 Feb;153(2):739-49. doi: 10.1210/en.2011-1504. Epub 2011 Dec 13; Pelekanou V et al, Anal Cell Pathol (Amst). 2011;34(1-2):49-60. doi: 10.3233/ACP-2011-0001).
I would like to have the opinion of authors to this point. Are they sure that the use of anti-BAFF antibodies does not affect the organs and tissues we have already reported to express the receptors of BAFF?
We are astonished that the authors do not integrate any of the precited references , which reposition BAFF and its receptors in solid normal organs and malignancies.
RE: References missing
maedels3 replied to AndreasTs on 30 Apr 2014 at 08:46 GMT
Thank you for your comment on our recent manuscript. Regarding your first statement we would like to point out that in our present study we only examined the effect of the anti-BLyS antibody Belimumab on insulin sensitivity. However, Belimumab (trade name: Benlysta) has been approved for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematodes in Europe. Therefore we kindly would like to refer to the published phase 3 clinical trials to receive information on the effects of Belimumab on human body functions other than insulin sensitivity.
In respect to your second statement we would like to point out that the major scope of our study was to examine the relation of BLyS to obesity and insulin resistance in humans. Our aim was rather not to examine effects on stem cell differentiation and tumour biology in adipose tissue or BLyS organ/tissue distribution. We apologize that we therefore did not reference your several publications. However, using this communication platform we would like to recommend every researcher in the field of BLyS to read your interesting papers.