Involvement of APO2 ligand/TRAIL in activation-induced death of Jurkat and human peripheral blood T cells

The interaction of Fas with Fas ligand (FasL) mediates activation-induced cell death (AICD) of T hybridomas and of mature T lymphocytes. The TNF/TNF receptor system also plays a significant role in AICD of mature T cells and in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. We previously demonstrated that in human Jurkat leukemia cells, AICD is triggered mainly by the rapid release of preformed FasL upon TCR stimulation. In the present work, we show that the cytotoxic cytokine APO2 ligand (APO2L; also known as TRAIL) is constitutively expressed as an intracytoplasmic protein in Jurkat T cells and derived sublines. APO2L is also detected in fresh human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a significant number of donors, and the amount of both FasL and APO2L substantially increases upon blast generation. A neutralizing anti-APO2L monoclonal antibody (mAb) partially suppresses the cytotoxicity induced by supernatants of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-prestimulated Jurkat or human PBMC on non-activated Jurkat cells, indicating that APO2L is released by these cells and contributes to AICD. A combination of neutralizing anti-APO2L and anti-Fas mAb blocks around 60 % of the toxicity associated with supernatants from PHA-activated human PBMC. These results show that FasL and APO2L account for the majority of cytotoxic activity released during AICD, and suggest that additional uncharacterized factors may also contribute to this process.     

CD59 cross-linking induces secretion of APO2 ligand in overactivated human T cells

Jurkat cells and the derived TCR / CD3-defective subline, J.RT3.T3.5 undergo activation induced cell death (AICD) when stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Since J.RT3.T3.5 cells do not express antigen receptor, we searched for the molecules that could be ligated by PHA and induce AICD in this cell line. We show here that the glycosylphosphatidylinositol linked CD59 molecule is expressed at the surface of Jurkat and J.RT3.T3.5 cells, and when cross-linked by specific antibodies can induce cell death. The toxicity of supernatants from PHA-stimulated Jurkat or J.RT3.T3.5 cells was prevented by a combination of the blocking anti-Fas mAb SM1 / 23 and anti-APO2L / TRAIL mAb 5C2. However, toxicity of supernatants from anti-CD59 stimulated cells was specifically prevented by the anti-APO2L blocking antibody. Anti-CD59 cross-linking induced AICD also in normal human T cell blasts, which secreted toxic molecules into the supernatant. The toxicity of these supernatants on Jurkat cells was fully prevented by the anti-APO2L blocking antibody, showing that CD59 crosslinking induces the preferential release of APO2L also in normal T cells. The possible physiological and / or pathological consequences of this observation are discussed.     

再生障碍性贫血患者外周血T细胞FasL的表达分析

目的 比较分析再生障碍性贫血(AA)患者T细胞上Fas配体(FasL)的表达及其在胞内外的分布情况，观察AAT细胞胞浆FasL的释放特性及细胞毒作用。方法 以正常人“静息”T细胞和人为诱导活化的T淋巴母细胞为参照，采用免疫荧光标记和流式细胞技术，检测FasL在AAT细胞表面及胞浆中的分布；用体外大剂量PHA-过性刺激的方式诱导T细胞胞浆FasL的释放；以Jurkat细胞为靶向，同时辅以单抗阻断及超速离心的方法，观察AAT细胞FasL的释放特性和杀伤效应。结果 AA T细胞表面及胞浆中均有FasL的异常表达，其中胞浆FasL的异常表达尤为显著；高浓度胞浆FasL可在大剂量PHA-过性刺激时迅速向胞外释放；PHA刺激后的AAT细胞培养上清有明显的Jutkat细胞杀伤活性，该效应可被FasL McAb阻断，或经超速离心加以去除。结论 AAT细胞是一种处于预活化状态的细胞，具有与T淋巴母细胞相似的活化特征，含有高浓度、能以细胞外体形式诱导释放、具备完整活性的胞浆FasL是其异常活化的一大特点。     

Distinct overexpression of Fas ligand on T lymphocytes in aplastic anemia

Increased expression of Fas by hematopoietic progenitors in aplastic anemia (AA) suggests that Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system plays a key role in the formation of severe pancytopenia. To further confirm the above hypothesis, T cells from 8 patients with AA were systematically studied for their FasL's distribution pattern, releasing manner and proapoptotic activity, compared with normal resting T cells and artificially activated T cell blasts. The results demonstrated that AA T cells abnormally expressed low levels of membrane-bound FasL and contained high levels of intracellular FasL which could be triggered to release by high-dose phytohemagglutinin (PHA) pulse-stimulation. The supernatants from the PHA-stimulated AA T cells had apparent cytotoxicity against FasL-sensitive Jurkat cells, which could be significantly inhibited by monoclonal antibody against FasL in a dose-dependent manner, or nearly completely abrogated by ultracentrifugation. The above phenomena also appeared on artificially activated T cell blasts, but this was not the case on normal resting T cells. These results indicate that AA T cell is a type of "preactivated" T lymphocyte, characterized by overexpression of FasL, especially intracellular FasL which can be stimulated to release in bioactive exosomes-bound form. Taken together, our data provide further and direct evidence for the hypothesis that T cells might mediate the destruction of hematopoietic progenitor in AA through Fas/FasL system.     

IFN-gamma regulates Fas ligand expression in human CD4+ T lymphocytes and controls their anti-mycobacterial cytotoxic functions

Fas and Fas Ligand (FasL) expression, activation-induced cell death (AICD) and mycobacterial antigen-specific cytotoxicity of peripheral T cells from patients with complete inherited IFN-gamma receptor 1 binding chain deficiency (IFN-gammaR1-/-) were investigated. Fas was equally expressed in both normal and deficient T lymphoblasts and they underwent apoptosis when stimulated with agonist anti-Fas mAb. By contrast, T lymphoblasts and CD4+ T cell clones (TCC) from deficient patients displayed a reduced surface FasL expression and resistance to AICD. CD8+ TCC from healthy and deficient patients displayed similar high level of FasL and susceptibility to AICD. In Jurkat CD4+ T cells competent to transduce IFN-gamma signaling, IFN-gamma induced surface FasL export and their Fas-dependent apoptosis. Effector T cells generated from a patient with a dominant negative mutation of IFN-gammaR1 (IFN-gammaR1DN) following stimulation with mycobacterial antigens were unable to kill MHC class II-matched, mycobacterial antigen-pulsed macrophages. Normal Fas expression in T cells and FasL in CD8+ cells may account for the absence of autoimmune disorders in these patients. Conversely, defective FasL expression on IFN-gammaR1DN CD4+ T cells impairs their cytotoxic functions and highlights a novel role for IFN-gamma signaling in the control of mycobacterial infection in humans.     

Down-regulation of normal human T cell blast activation: roles of APO2L/TRAIL, FasL, and c- FLIP, Bim, or Bcl-x isoform expression

A systematic study was undertaken to characterize the role of APO 2 ligand/tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (APO2L/TRAIL) and Fas ligand (FasL) together with the expression of several anti- or proapoptotic proteins in the down-regulation of normal human T cell responses. We have observed for the first time that the higher sensitivity of normal human T cell blasts to apoptosis and activation-induced cell death (AICD) as compared with naive T cells correlates with the increased expression of Bcl-x short (Bcl-xS) and Bim. T cell blasts die in the absence of interleukin 2 (IL-2) with no additional effect of death receptor ligation. In the presence of IL-2, recombinant APO2L/TRAIL or cytotoxic anti-Fas monoclonal antibodies induce rather inhibition of IL-2-dependent growth and not cell death on normal human T cell blasts. This observation is of physiological relevance, as supernatants from T cell blasts, pulse-stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or through CD3 or CD59 ligation and containing bioactive APO2L/TRAIL and/or FasL expressed on microvesicles or direct CD3 or CD59 ligation, had the same effect. Cell death was only observed in the presence of cycloheximide or after a pulse through CD3 or CD59, correlating with a net reduction in cellular Fas-associated death domain-like IL-1beta-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein long (c-FLIPL) and c-FLIPS expression. We also show that death receptor and free radical generation contribute, at least partially, to AICD induced by PHA and also to the inhibition of IL-2-dependent cell growth by CD3 or CD59 ligation. Finally, we have also shown that T cell blasts surviving PHA-induced AICD are memory CD44high cells with increased c-FLIPS and Bcl-xL expression.     

Protection of T cells from activation-induced cell death by Fas+ B cells

Naive CD4+ T cells proliferate strongly in response to stimulation by superantigens such as staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). However, when these same cells revert to a resting phenotype and are subjected to restimulation with either SEB or anti-CD3, the majority of these SEB-responsive cells undergo Fas ligand (FasL)-mediated activation-induced cell death (AICD). We investigated the impact of Fas expression on T cell AICD by utilizing B cell stimulators that lacked functional FasL and either expressed or did not express the Fas receptor. Our results indicate that B cells play an important role in modulating the level of T cell AICD via the Fas/FasL pathway. Activated B cells expressing high levels of Fas receptor can redirect the FasL expressed by T cells primed to undergo AICD away from the T cells and prevent the induction of AICD in these cells. Furthermore, B cells stimulated through both the CD40 receptor and membrane IgM appear to mediate a stronger protective effect on T cells by virtue of their resistance to FasL-mediated cytolysis. These observations suggest a mechanism by which normal B cell and T cell responses to foreign antigen are maintained, while responses to self antigen are not.     

Activation through CD40 ligation induces functional Fas ligand expression by Langerhans cells

Langerhans cells (LC) are professional antigen-presenting cells of dendritic cell (DC) lineage and are critical for the induction of primary immune responses in skin. Following antigenic stimulation, LC migrate to regional lymph nodes and induce antigen-specific activation of T cells. After primary expansion, the majority of T cells undergo Fas/Fas ligand (FasL)-mediated apoptotic cell death, thereby suppressing their excessive expansion. Although recent investigations have indicated an immunoregulatory function for DC, whether LC could be involved in Fas/FasL-mediated suppression of activated T cells is still unclear. In this study, we found that LC express FasL after activation triggered through CD40 molecules on their surface, but not by stimulation with LPS or IFN-gamma. The functional significance of FasL expression by LC was demonstrated using two different assays for apoptosis induced in Jurkat cells. The apoptosis in Jurkat cells was completely blocked by anti-FasL blocking antibody, suggesting a Fas/FasL-mediated mechanism. These results indicate a new feedback mechanism to down-regulate T cell activation by LC through the interaction of the TNF receptor/ligand superfamily, CD40/CD40L and Fas/FasL.     

Fas/FasL途径介导的人肺癌细胞免疫逃逸

目的：观察在3种人肺癌细胞（A549、EBC-1、LCSC）和人T细胞(Jurkat) Fas/FasL表达情况，探讨人肺癌细胞免疫逃逸及反杀伤作用与Fas/FasL途径的关系。 方法： 用FACScan、RT-PCR方法检测Fas/FasL蛋白及mRNA表达；以荧光染色法观察细胞调亡；用台盼蓝拒染法检测细胞存活。 结果： 3种人肺癌细胞及T-细胞系(Jurkat)均表达 Fas及 FasL；肺癌细胞与Jurkat细胞共培养时，肺癌细胞可导致Jurkat细胞生长抑制(P<0.05)及凋亡；在共培养体系中加入FasL中和性抗体NOK1，可封闭肺癌细胞对Jurkat细胞的生长抑制作用(P>0.05)。 结论： Fas/FasL途径可介导上述3种人肺癌细胞对Jurkat细胞的生长抑制及致凋亡作用；中和性抗体可有效阻断Fas信号转导途径，抑制肿瘤细胞的反杀伤作用，有效保护免疫系统。     

Antigen-induced T cell death is regulated by CD4 expression

Activation induced cell death (AICD) is a major physiologic pathway that regulates T cell homeostasis. In CD4 T cells, AICD is mediated mainly through Fas/FasL interactions. Although TCR occupancy triggers AICD, the contribution of its tightly associated CD4 coreceptor to the process that leads to AICD is not known. Here we show that CD4 molecule plays an essential regulatory role of TCR dependent AICD. Loss of CD4 rendered activated 5kc T cell hybridoma resistant to AICD. The resistance of CD4 negative 5kc T cells to AICD was due to selective inhibition of FasL expression and it could be reversed by addition of recombinant FasL. Furthermore, a direct functional link between CD4 and FasL was demonstrated by induction of FasL upon CD4 crosslinking in a TCR independent fashion. The importance of CD4 interaction with MHC/peptide complex in mediating AICD was also evident in normal T cells that could survive chronic stimulation with anti-CD3 but died after short period of proliferation after stimulation with MHC/peptide. Thus it appears that AICD is controlled by the CD4 molecule via regulation of FasL expression. These findings have important implications for our understanding of mechanisms of peripheral tolerance as well as pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.     

Antigen-Induced T Cell Death Is Regulated by CD4 Expression

Activation induced cell death (AICD) is a major physiologic pathway that regulates T cell homeostasis. In CD4 T cells, AICD is mediated mainly through Fas/FasL interactions. Although TCR occupancy triggers AICD, the contribution of its tightly associated CD4 coreceptor to the process that leads to AICD is not known. Here we show that CD4 molecule plays an essential regulatory role of TCR dependent AICD. Loss of CD4 rendered activated 5kc T cell hybridoma resistant to AICD. The resistance of CD4 negative 5kc T cells to AICD was due to selective inhibition of FasL expression and it could be reversed by addition of recombinant FasL. Furthermore, a direct functional link between CD4 and FasL was demonstrated by induction of FasL upon CD4 cross-linking in a TCR independent fashion. The importance of CD4 interaction with MHC/peptide complex in mediating AICD was also evident in normal T cells that could survive chronic stimulation with anti-CD3 but died after short period of proliferation after stimulation with MHC/peptide. Thus it appears that AICD is controlled by the CD4 molecule via regulation of FasL expression. These findings have important implications for our understanding of mechanisms of peripheral tolerance as well as pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.     

Death of solid tumor cells induced by fas ligand expressing primary myoblasts

Anticancer therapy for solid tumors suffers from inadequate methods for the localized administration of cytotoxic agents. Fas ligand (FasL) has been reported to be cytotoxic to a variety of cells, including certain tumor cell lines. We therefore postulated that myoblasts could serve as non-transformed gene therapy vehicles for the continuous localized delivery of cytotoxic anticancer agents such as FasL. However, contrary to previous reports, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses revealed that both primary mouse and human myoblasts express Fas, the receptor for FasL. To avoid self-destruction and test the cytotoxic potential of myoblasts, the cells were isolated from mice deficient in Fas (lpr/lpr), the mouse counterpart of human autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS). These primary mouse myoblasts were transduced with a retroviral vector encoding mouse FasL and expression of a biologically active and soluble form of the molecule was confirmed by the apoptotic demise of cocultured Fas-expressing Jurkat cells, the standard in the field. To test whether the lpr myoblasts expressing FasL could be used in anticancer therapy, human rhabdomyosarcoma derived cell lines were assayed for Fas and then tested in the apoptosis coculture assay. The majority of Fas-expressingmuscle tumor cells were rapidly killed. Moreover, FasL expressing myoblasts were remarkably potent; indeed well characterized cytotoxic antibodies to Fas were only 20% as efficient at killing rhabdomyosarcoma cells as FasL expressing myoblasts. These findings together with previous findings suggest that primary myoblasts, defective in Fas but genetically engineered to express FasL, could function as potent anticancer agents for use in the localized destruction of solid tumors in vivo by three synergistic mechanisms: (1) directly via Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis, (2) indirectly via neutrophil infiltration and immunodestruction, and (3) as allogeneic inducers of a bystander effect via B and T cells.     

Single base oligodeoxyguanosine upregulates Fas ligand release by nonspecific cytotoxic cells

Nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) are a type of teleost NK-like cell. In the present study a novel stimulus secretion model is described for catfish NCC utilizing single base oligodeoxyguanosine. Binding of guanosine 20-mers (dG20) to NCC up-regulated expression of cytosolic FasL detected by an anti-human FasL monoclonal antibody (mab). In vitro treatment of purified NCC with dG20 produced a 7-fold increase in expression of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) after 3 h. Antibody binding to NCC was saturable and approximately 30-35% of total NCC were positive for sFasL expression. The teleost FasL equivalent produced programmed cell death of appropriate FasR positive targets. Supernatants from dG20 activated NCC produced hypoploidy and annexin-V binding by FasR bearing HL-60 cells. Treatment of activated supernatants with immobilized anti-FasL mab neutralized these activities. These studies demonstrated that an NK like cell (NCC) produces and secretes sFasL following binding by single base oligodeoxyguanosine.     

Th1 and Th2 subsets equally undergo Fas-dependent and -independent activation-induced cell death

Stimulation of previously activated T cells results in apoptosis, termed activation-induced cell death (AICD). Recent analysis revealed that the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interaction is predominantly involved in AICD of T cells. Furthermore, based on the analysis of various T cell clones and lines, it has been reported that FasL is expressed mainly in Th1 but not in Th2 cells. However, the exact expression pattern of FasL and its function in normal activated T cells has not been determined. In the present study, by utilizing completely differentiated Th1 and Th2 cell populations obtained from ovalbumin-specific T cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic mice, the FasL expression on Th1 and Th2 was determined. Furthermore, involvement of Fas-FasL interaction in AICD of Th1 and Th2 cells was analyzed by two approaches: one was the inhibition of AICD by anti-FasL monoclonal antibodies, and the other AICD of Th1/Th2 subsets from TCR-transgenic mice backcrossed to lpr mice. We demonstrated that Th2 cells express FasL on the cell surface at a level similar to that expressed by Th1 cells, and that both subsets were equally susceptible to the Fas-mediated AICD. These observations suggest not only that the expression of FasL is not always correlated with Th subsets as defined by the cytokine-producing profile, but also that the responses of both Th1 and Th2 subsets are regulated by Fas-mediated AICD. Finally, analysis of the kinetics of AICD revealed a novel Fas/FasL-independent pathway in its initial stage. These findings revealed the precise function of Fas/FasL-mediated as well as Fas/FasL-independent AICD in the regulation of helper T cell responses.     

Taurine attenuates CD3/interleukin-2-induced T cell apoptosis in an in vitro model of activation-induced cell death (AICD)

Interleukin (IL)-2 immunotherapy is used for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma and mediates its effects through the clonal expansion of lymphocytes. Although IL-2 remains the most effective form of therapy for these cancers, response rates are poor and dose escalation is hampered by side effects, which include vascular leak and lymphopenia. The mechanism underlying T cell loss is currently unidentified but could be the induction of activation-induced cell death (AICD) mediated by FasL. Our previous studies have shown that the amino acid taurine can attenuate apoptosis induced by a number of factors in different cell types. Here, we induced T cell AICD via CD3 and IL-2 stimulation and investigated the effect of taurine on lymphocyte apoptosis. Anti-CD3-activated Jurkat T cells treated with IL-2 significantly increased FasL expression, which was associated with increased apoptosis. Treatment with taurine prior to stimulation down-regulated FasL protein expression and partially inhibited apoptosis. Inhibition of FasL-signalling resulted in an identical reduction in apoptosis. As the kinetics of AICD are completely different in circulating T cells, we repeated these experiments in such cells to confirm our finding. Stimulation of CD4(+) circulating T cells induced apoptosis in sensitized, but not freshly isolated T cells, which was abrogated partially by taurine. In Jurkat cells it was determined that taurine-mediated down-regulation of FasL protein expression was associated with decreased FasL mRNA expression and reduced NFkappaB activation. These results reveal one possible mechanism underlying the lymphopenia observed with IL-2 immunotherapy, involving increased FasL expression leading to apoptosis. Taurine may be of use in reversing the lymphopenia associated with IL-2, thereby augmenting its immunotherapeutic potential.     

The regulation of FasL expression during activation-induced cell death (AICD)

Activation-induced cell death (AICD), a Fas ligand (FasL)-dependent pathway, is important for maintaining T-cell homeostasis. Interleukin-2 (IL-2), an enhancer of AICD, can also enhance FasL expression. However, we show that the level of FasL or FLIP protein did not correlate with the susceptibility to AICD. Some T cells expressed high levels of FasL yet failed to undergo AICD, while others expressed little FasL and were sensitive. AICD susceptibility did not correlate with the kinetics of FasL up-regulation or down-regulation. The down-regulation of FasL can be mediated by a metalloprotease. However, we describe an alternative mechanism for the loss of FasL by endocytosis. Endocytosis inhibitors such as cytochalasins, sodium azide, deoxyglucose, or low temperatures prevented the loss of FasL. KB8301, a metalloprotease inhibitor had no effect on the loss of FasL or AICD in the T cells. Enhancing FasL expression was not crucial for AICD and the down-regulation of FasL proceeded via endocytosis.     

Apoptosis induced in T cells by human neuroblastoma cells: role of Fas ligand

The CD95/CD95L (Fas/Fas ligand) receptor/ligand system plays an important role in regulation of cell survival and induction of a programmed cell death. It is also involved in regulation of effector phase of T and NK cell cytotoxicity, establishment of immune privilege sites, and tumor escape from immune recognition. In this study, we assessed expression of CD95L in tumors obtained from patients with neuroblastoma (NB) and in established NB cell lines. We measured the presence of intratumoral T cell infiltrates and T cell survival in tumor tissue samples. High levels of apoptosis were observed in tumor-associated lymphocytes as well as in Jurkat T cells cocultured with NB cells in vitro. T cell death was reduced after treatment of NB cells (in vitro) with antibody to FAS ligand (FasL). Overall, our data suggest that NB-induced apoptosis of Fas-sensitive Jurkat T cells is mediated by functional FasL expressed on NB and Fas/FasL interaction may be responsible for the elimination of T cells in the NB microenvironment.     

Apoptosis provoked by the oxidative stress inducer menadione (Vitamin K(3)) is mediated by the Fas/Fas ligand system.

Menadione, or vitamin K(3) (VK(3)), a potent oxidative stress inducer, has been recently used as an effective and remarkably safe cytotoxic drug for treatment of several human tumors. VK(3) induces apoptotic cell death through a poorly understood mechanism. Here we show for the first time that VK(3)-induced apoptosis requires the Fas/FasL system. Spleen cells from both Fas- and FasL-deficient mice (C57BL/6-lpr and C57BL/6-gld, respectively) had much lower levels of VK(3) apoptosis in vitro compared to cells from control C57BL/6 mice. VK(3) cytotoxicity toward mouse splenocytes was also blocked with a Fas-Fc fusion protein. VK(3) induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells, coincident with an increase in both Fas and FasL expression. A FasL-resistant variant of these Jurkat cells was also resistant to VK(3)-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, because VK(3) effects were inhibited by glutathione, a potent antioxidant, oxidative stress was linked to the Fas/FasL system. Moreover, since the Jurkat cell lines were p53 null, the activation of Fas/FasL system after oxidative stress apparently acted through a p53-independent pathway. The therapeutic relevance of the K vitamins has been growing in recent years; our findings offer new insight for improving and expanding their applications.     

Fas Ligand Is Present in Tumors of the Ewing’s Sarcoma Family and Is Cleaved into a Soluble Form by a Metalloproteinase

Fas ligand (FasL) exists in transmembrane and soluble forms and induces apoptosis on cross-linking with the Fas receptor. We evaluated the biological significance of FasL and Fas in 61 tumor tissues and 9 cell lines of the Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT). FasL was present in 62.5% and Fas in 79.4% of primary ESFT. Metastatic tumors had higher expression of FasL (95%), suggesting association with a metastatic phenotype. FasL was detected in the cytoplasm and membrane of ESFT cells by immunofluorescence. Western blotting revealed transmembrane and soluble FasL in cytosolic extracts and soluble FasL in conditioned media. Both transmembrane and soluble FasL induced apoptosis of Fas-sensitive Jurkat cells in co-culture experiments with ESFT cells or their media. Treatment with phenanthroline and the synthetic metalloproteinase inhibitor BB-3103 reduced the levels of soluble FasL in the media, suggesting that in ESFT, FasL is processed by a metalloproteinase and released in the extracellular milieu. The released soluble FasL may serve to attack cells of the immune system and/or interfere with the binding of transmembrane FasL with Fas, and results in down-regulation of transmembrane FasL. Synthetic metalloproteinase inhibitors may modify the ratio of transmembrane to soluble FasL.