A novel insight into adaptive immunity in COPD: B Cell Activating Factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF).

Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, University of Padova Corresponding Author: Marina Saetta, M.D. Universita degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Scienze Cardiologiche, Toraciche e Vascolari, Unita Operativa di Pneumologia Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 PADOVA, Italy Tel ++ 39 049 8213710 Fax ++ 39 049 8213110 e-mail: marina.saetta@unipd.it Supported by University of Padova, Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, Cariparo Foundation and unrestricted grants from GlaxoSmithKline, UK and Chiesi Farmaceutici. Running head: Overexpression of BAFF and BAFF-R in smokers with COPD Descriptor number: 9.13 COPD: Pathogenesis Word count for the body of the manuscript : 3849