Mr. Alderson et al., FAS LIGAND MEDIATES ACTIVATION-INDUCED CELL-DEATH IN HUMAN T-LYMPHOCYTES, The Journal of experimental medicine, 181(1), 1995, pp. 71-77
A significant proportion of previously activated human T cells undergo
apoptosis when triggered through the CD3/T cell receptor complex, a p
rocess termed activation-induced cell death (AICD). Ligation of pas on
activated T cells by either Fas antibodies or recombinant human Fas-l
igand (Fas-L) also results in cytolysis. We demonstrate that these two
pathways of apoptosis are causally related. Stimulation of previously
activated T cells resulted in the expression of Fas-L mRNA and lysis
of Fas-positive target cells. Fas-L antagonists inhibited AICD of T ce
ll clones and staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB)-specific T cell lines
. The data indicate AICD in previously stimulated T cells is mediated
by Fas/Fas-L interactions.