B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)

B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), also known as TNFRSF17 or CD269, is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. It is primarily expressed on mature B lymphocytes, plasmablasts, and plasma cells. BCMA plays a crucial role in the survival of long-lived plasma cells and is a key therapeutic target in multiple myeloma due to its overexpression on malignant plasma cells. Ligands BAFF and APRIL bind to BCMA, activating intracellular signaling pathways that promote cell survival and proliferation. Soluble BCMA can be found in blood due to cleavage by γ-secretase.

Other names

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17TNFRSF17CD269

Ligand binding (BAFF, APRIL) activates intracellular signaling pathways (NF-kappaB, MEK/ERK, AKT, JNK, p38 kinase) promoting cell survival and proliferation; therapeutic targeting aims to induce cell death in BCMA-expressing cells via various mechanisms (T-cell mediated lysis, direct cytotoxicity)