A short peptide derived from the antisense homology box of Fas ligand induces apoptosis in anti-Fas antibody-insensitive human ovarian cancer cells

We found that a short synthetic peptide corresponding to the "antisense hom ology box" of Fas ligand induced apoptotic cell death of Fas-expressing hum an ovarian cancer cell lines. The peptide was deduced from residues 256-265 of human Fas ligand, based on the hypothesis that it should contain a spec ific binding site to the corresponding Fas. Interestingly, the ovarian canc er cell line NOS4, which was sensitive to anti-Fas antibody induced apoptos is, was not affected by the peptide, whereas another cell line, SKOV-3, whi ch was insensitive to anti-Fas antibody, was killed by the peptide. Thus, t his short peptide was shown to have a unique activity to induce apoptosis i n human ovarian cancer cells in a manner different from anti-Fas antibody.