FITC Mouse Anti-Human CD268 (BAFF Receptor) Antibody (11C1)

CD268, also known as the B-cell Activating Factor Receptor (BAFF-R or BR3), is a type III transmembrane protein belonging to the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily that plays a pivotal role in B lymphocyte biology by serving as the primary high-affinity receptor for BAFF (BLyS). Predominantly expressed on the surface of mature and transitional B cells, CD268 is essential for B cell survival, maturation from the transitional to the follicular stage, and the maintenance of peripheral B cell homeostasis through the activation of key signaling pathways such as NF-κB (both canonical and non-canonical), PI3K/Akt, and MAPK. Upon binding to its ligand BAFF, CD268 prevents apoptosis by upregulating anti-apoptotic proteins like Bcl-2 and Mcl-1, thereby ensuring the longevity of the B cell pool; conversely, defects or deficiencies in CD268 signaling lead to a severe reduction in mature B cell numbers and impaired humoral immunity. Due to its critical function in B cell survival, CD268 is a significant therapeutic target in autoimmune diseases characterized by B cell hyperactivity, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in B cell malignancies, where blocking this receptor can effectively induce the depletion of pathogenic or malignant B cells.