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Fas ligand‐induced apoptosis of hepatocytes in natural killer cell leukaemia
Author(s) -
Tani Ryuzo,
Ozaki Shuji,
Kosaka Masaaki,
Fujiwara Soichiro,
Shibata Hironobu,
Wakatsuki Shingo,
Matsumoto Toshio
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1999.01594.x
Subject(s) - fas ligand , apoptosis , immunology , natural killer cell , interferon , fas receptor , biology , cancer research , medicine , programmed cell death , cytotoxic t cell , in vitro , biochemistry
Neoplastic natural killer (NK) cells overexpress Fas ligand (FasL), which may cause damage of Fas‐bearing tissues. We report a patient with NK cell leukaemia who developed liver injury after pharyngitis. The NK leukaemic cells expressed functional FasL. In addition to soluble FasL, serum levels of interleukin‐6 and interferon‐γ were increased dramatically when liver injury was aggravated. Moreover, hepatocytes expressed Fas and apoptotic hepatocytes were detected in the portal areas. These findings are consistent with the notion that inflammatory cytokines enhance the sensitivity to FasL and trigger apoptosis of hepatocytes in NK cell malignancies.