BAFF and Associated TNF Superfamily Members in Renal Transplantation: An End to BLySful Ignorance

The emergence of B-cell-activating factor and its related family members as critical mediators for B-cell development and survival has led to the development of a number of new agents aimed at controlling complicated chronic pathologies with an underlying humoral component. Currently being trialed in autoimmunity, these agents also hold much promise for preventing the insidious humoral responses that are increasingly associated with early failure of kidney transplants. This review discusses some of the pertinent aspects of B-cell-activating factor biology and considers how recent advances in our understanding of this signaling axis could be exploited to improve clinical outcomes in renal transplantation.