ANTITUMOR EFFECT OF LOCALLY PRODUCED CD95 LIGAND

Activation of the cell-surface antigen CD95 induces apoptosis of CD95- bearing tumor cells. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effe ct of locally produced CD95 ligand (CD95L) on CD95-negative tumor cell s in vivo. Introduction of CD95L cDNA into murine tumor cells did not affect growth in vitro but caused rejection in vivo. Neutrophils were primarily responsible for this rejection. A CD8(+) T cell-mediated pro tective immunity against subsequent challenge with parental tumor cell s was also elicited. These results provide evidence for the potential utility of CD95L in tumor eradication and also reveal a proinflammator y function of CD95L.