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Cell death induced by the Fas/Fas ligand pathway and its role in pathology
Author(s) -
Waring Paul,
Müllbacher Arno
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1711.1999.00837.x
Subject(s) - fas ligand , fas receptor , apoptosis , programmed cell death , microbiology and biotechnology , cytotoxic t cell , receptor , immune system , cell , biology , cancer research , chemistry , immunology , in vitro , biochemistry
Engagement of the cell death surface receptor Fas by Fas ligand (FasL) results in apoptotic cell death, mediated by caspase activation. Cell death mediated via Fas/FasL interaction is important for homeostasis of cells in the immune system and for maintaining immune‐privileged sites in the body. Killing via the Fas/FasL pathway also constitutes an important pathway of killing for cytotoxic T cells. Fas ligand is induced in activated T cells, resulting in activation‐induced cell death by the Fas/FasL pathway. Recently it has been shown that the Fas receptor can also be up‐regulated following a lesion to the cell, particularly that induced by DNA‐damaging agents. This can then result in killing of the cell by a Fas/FasL‐dependent pathway. Up‐regulation of Fas receptor following DNA damage appears to be p53 dependent.