The cytoplasmic signaling protein TNF receptor-associated factor 5 (TRAF5) has been implicated in several biological roles in Tlymphocyte responses. However, a clear connection between in vivo TRAF5 immune cell functions and specific signaling pathways has not been made. This study shows that TRAF5 associated strongly with the viral oncogenic CD40 mimic latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), in contrast to weaker association with CD40, for which it has been shown to play a modest role. LMP1 uses specific TRAFs differently than CD40, resulting in amplified and dysregulated CD40-like activation of B lymphocytes. When the cytoplasmic domain of LMP1 is expressed as a transgenic replacement for CD40 in mouse B cells, the resulting mouse exhibits measures of B-cell hyperactivity such as splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, elevated serum IL-6, elevated serum autoantibodies, and abnormal splenic architecture. Thus, in contrast to CD40, TRAF5 may have an important nonredundant role as a positive mediator of LMP1 signaling and functions in B cells. To test this hypothesis, mice were created that express mCD40LMP1 in place of CD40, and are either sufficient or deficient in TRAF5. Results revealed that TRAF5 plays a critical role in LMP1-mediated c-Jun kinase signaling and is required for much of the abnormal phenotype observed in mCD40LMP1 transgenic mice. This is the first report showing a major requirement for TRAF5 in signaling by a specific receptor both in vitro and in vivo, as well as playing an important role in biological function in B lymphocytes.B lymphocyte ͉ latent membrane protein 1 ͉ TNF receptor-associated factor ͉ lymphocyte activation ͉ TNF receptor superfamily T he Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is a functional mimic of CD40 expressed as a six transmembrane receptor on the cell surface (1). LMP1 selfoligomerizes, resulting in constitutive signaling (1, 2). Although LMP1 can initiate signaling without a ligand, the unique nature of its cytoplasmic domain results in sustained and amplified activation independent of its transmembrane regions. Thus, a hybrid molecule in which the transmembrane domains of LMP1 are replaced with the transmembrane and extracellular portions of CD40 induces B-cell activation that is higher and more prolonged than levels achieved by endogenous CD40 (3-5). Expression of LMP1 by B cells also results in increased survival (5, 6) and class switching (7). The heightened activation state caused by LMP1 expression in mice leads to B-cell hyperactivity, resulting in splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and production of elevated serum IL-6 and autoantibodies (4). The amplified and constitutive CD40-like signal provided by LMP1 can also contribute to generation of Reed-Sternberg cells (8) and B-cell lymphoma (9).Like CD40, LMP1 binds and uses cytoplasmic adaptor molecules known as TNF receptor-associated factors (TRAFs). Interestingly, LMP1 uses TRAFs 1, 2, and 3 differently than CD40. TRAFs 1 and 2 cooperate to promote certain CD40-mediated signals to B cells, but TRAF3 inhib...