The B cell scaffold protein with ankyrin repeats (BANK1) is expressed primarily in B cells and with multiple but discrete roles in B cell signaling, including B cell receptor signaling, CD40-related signaling, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. The gene for BANK1, located in chromosome 4, has been found to contain genetic variants that are associated with several autoimmune diseases and also other complex phenotypes, in particular, with systemic lupus erythematosus. Common genetic variants are associated with changes in BANK1 expression in B cells, while rare variants modify their capacity to bind efferent effectors during signaling. A BANK1-deficient model has shown the importance of BANK1 during TLR7 and TLR9 signaling and has confirmed its role in the disease. Still, much needs to be done to fully understand the function of BANK1, but the main conclusion is that it may be the link between different signaling functions within the B cells and they may act to synergize the various pathways within a cell. With this review, we hope to enhance the interest in this molecule.
Keywords: B cell receptor; B cell scaffold with ankyrin repeats; B cells; BLK; CD40; LYN; TLR7; TRAF6; autoimmunity; genetic association.