Ethanol promotes T cell apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway

Clinical reports suggest that acute ethanol intoxication is often associated with lymphopenia. Previously, ethanol was reported to invoke thymocyte apoptosis. We studied the effect of ethanol on T cell apoptosis. In addition, we evaluated the molecular mechanism of ethanol-induced T cell apoptosis. Human T cells harvested from healthy subjects after an alcohol drinking binge showed enhanced T cell apoptosis (before, 0.4 +/- 0.2% versus after, 19.6 +/- 2.5% apoptotic lymphocytes/field; P < 0.001). In in vitro studies, ethanol in a concentration of 50 mm and higher enhanced the apoptosis of Jurkat cells. DNA isolated from ethanol-treated Jurkat cells displayed integer multiples of 180 base pairs. Ethanol decreased Jurkat cell expression of Bcl-2, whereas ethanol increased Jurkat cell expression of Bax. Jurkat cells treated with ethanol also showed translocation of cytochrome C into cytosol. Moreover, a caspase-9 inhibitor partially inhibited ethanol-induced Jurkat cell apoptosis. In in vivo studies, after binge drinking, T cell expression of Bcl-2 also decreased. In addition, binge drinking induced the cleavage of caspase-3, suggesting activation of caspase-3 in T cells. These results suggest that ethanol promotes T cell apoptosis through the activation of intrinsic or mitochondrial pathway.     

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.     

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.     

特异性ASODN抑制Fas表达降低FasL介导细胞凋亡的研究

为了研究特异性Fas反义寡核苷酸(ASODN)对T细胞Fas表达及肝癌细胞诱导其凋亡的抑制作用,用脂质体介导法将Fas ASODN导入Jurkat T细胞,并通过用流式细胞术、RT-PCR及与肝癌细胞共培养方法研究Fas ASODN对T细胞Fas表达、Fas mRNA水平及凋亡的影响。结果显示:①Hep G2.2.15细胞表达有功能的FasL,可诱导Jurkat细胞凋亡;②Jurkat细胞转染Fas ASODN后,Fas mRNA降低;细胞表面Fas表达下降;与Hep G2.2.15细胞共培养后的凋亡率下降。表明Fas ASODN转染可以部分逆转肝癌细胞对T细胞的凋亡诱导作用。     

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.     

Activated CD8(+) T cells from aged mice exhibit decreased activation-induced cell death

To uncouple the defects of activation and apoptosis of T cells from aged mice, we used anti-CD3 plus IL-2 stimulation to induce an activation response and analyzed the subsequent activation-induced cell death (AICD) response of T cells from 16-month-old mice. The results herein demonstrate that T cells from 16-month-old mice could be activated by anti-CD3-induced activation signals but exhibited distinct phenotypic and functional features compared to young (2-month-old) mice. These include a decrease in AICD, a delayed entry into the cell cycle, and a decreased telomerase activity. The decreased AICD of T cells from 16-month-old mice is associated with a decreased expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL), decreased susceptibility to anti-Fas-induced apoptosis, and an increased expansion of a CD8(+) T-cell population. Prior to activation, these T cells exhibit a phenotype that is CD44(hi)CD62L(hi). After stimulation, these T cells produced high levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IFN-gamma, and developed an increased population of IFN-gamma(+)IFN-gamma R(-) T cells. Our results suggest that there is a dysregulation in T-cell homeostasis in aged mice associated with a decrease in AICD of CD8(+) T cells.     

Role of interleukin-18 in human natural killer cell is associated with interleukin-2

Human natural killer (NK) cells constitute an important cellular component of innate immunity, capable of killing infected and transformed cells. The proliferation and activation of NK cells are regulated by various cytokines. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) promotes NK cell activation; however, whether the effects of IL-18 on NK cell are associated with other cytokines is still unknown. In this study, we observed that IL-18 induced NK cell apoptosis and inhibited NK cell expansion in the presence of low concentrations of interleukin-2 (IL-2), while high concentrations of IL-2 overcame these effects of IL-18, and high concentrations of IL-2 promoted the stimulatory activity of IL-18 on NK cells. At a low concentration of IL-2, IL-18 induced NK cell apoptosis in part through activation of the FasL/Fas- and TNFα/TNFR-mediated death receptor signaling by enhancing FasL expression and inhibiting c-FLIP(long) expression. However, high concentrations of IL-2 strongly blocked IL-18-induced NK cell apoptosis through alleviating IL-18-induced FasL expression and activation of Fas-mediated death signaling and increasing anti-apoptosis molecule (Bcl-X(L)). These results reveal that the effects of IL-18 on human NK cell are associated with IL-2 concentration and suggest the importance of IL-2 level in cytokine immunotherapy.     

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril prevents activation-induced apoptosis by interfering with T cell activation signals

Captopril is an orally active inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) which is widely used as an anti-hypertensive agent. In addition to its ability to reduce blood pressure, captopril has a number of other biological activities. Recently the drug was shown to inhibit Fas-induced apoptosis in human activated peripheral T cells and human lung epithelial cells. In this study, we investigated whether captopril blocks activation-induced apoptosis in murine T cell hybridomas, and found that captopril inhibited IL-2 synthesis and apoptotic cell death upon activation with anti-CD3 antibody. In addition, captopril inhibited an inducible caspase-3-like activity during activation-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, captopril did not interfere with Fas signalling, since anti-Fas antibody-induced apoptosis in Fas+ Jurkat cells was unaffected by the drug. Furthermore, we examined whether captopril blocks activation-induced apoptosis by interfering with expression of Fas, Fas ligand (FasL), or both on T cell hybridomas. FasL expression on activated T cells was significantly inhibited by captopril, whereas up-expression of Fas was partially inhibited, as assessed by cell surface staining. Taking all data together, we conclude that captopril prevents activation-induced apoptosis in T cell hybridomas by interfering with T cell activation signals. Captopril has been reported to induce systemic lupus erythematosus syndrome, and our findings may be useful for elucidating the mechanism of captopril-induced autoimmunity.     

Collagen type I signaling reduces the expression and the function of human receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) in T lymphocytes

The mechanisms by which beta1 integrins modulate T cell functions are still poorly defined. We have previously reported that signaling via the collagen type I (Coll I) receptor, alpha2beta1 integrin, inhibited FasL expression and protected Jurkat T cells from activation-induced cell death (AICD). In this study, we examined whether Coll I signaling in T cells also modulates the expression of the human receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), a recently identified TNF family member which has important functions in osteoclastogenesis, cell survival and apoptosis. Our results show that in both Jurkat T cells and human primary T cells, Coll I signaling significantly reduces activation-induced RANKL expression by 50-60%. We also found that RANKL is not involved in AICD but participates in doxorubicin-induced apoptosis of leukemia T cell lines including Jurkat, CEM and HSB-2. In this respect, Coll I protected leukemia T cell lines from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis by inhibiting doxorubicin-induced RANKL expression. Together, our results suggest that by limiting the production of RANKL, Coll I signaling may contribute to the resistance of leukemia T cells to chemotherapy. Our study also emphasizes the importance Coll I signaling may have in the control of RANKL-associated T cell functions.     

Activation-induced cell death in T cells

Summary: A properly functioning immune system is dependent on programmed cell death at virtually every stage of lymphocyte development and activity. This review addresses the phenomenon of activation‐induced cell death (AICD) in T lymphocytes, in which activation through the T‐cell receptor results in apoptosis. AICD can occur in a cell‐autonomous manner and is influenced by the nature of the initial T‐cell activation events. It plays essential roles in both central and peripheral deletion events involved in tolerance and homeostasis, although it is likely that different forms of AICD proceed via different mechanisms. For example, while AICD in peripheral T cells is often caused by the induction of expression of the death ligand, Fas ligand (CD95 ligand, FasL), it does not appear to be involved in AICD in thymocytes. This and other mechanisms of AICD are discussed. One emerging model that may complement other forms of AICD involves the inducible expression of FasL by nonlymphoid tissues in response to activated T lymphocytes. Induction of nonlymphoid FasL in this manner may serve as a sensing mechanism for immune cell infiltration, which contributes to peripheral deletion.     

Increased serum IL-10 in lupus patients promotes apoptosis of T cell subsets via the caspase 8 pathway initiated by Fas signaling

We sought to investigate the expression of Fas and FasL on T cell surface and caspase 8 involvement in T cell apoptosis promoted by serum IL-10 in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) patients.Cells and sera were obtained from 35 SLE patients.Apoptosis of T cells in patients with SLE was increased and associated with the SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI).Elevated expression of Fas and FasL on T cell surface contributed to increased apoptosis of T cells.Increased IL-10 in the sera of SLE patients was capable of inducing Fas and FasL expression on CD4~+T cell surface,promoting apoptosis of this cell subset.Decreased IL-10 serum levels and low expression of Fas were found in 5 patients of the first follow-up group after 2-month treatment.In another group with one-year treatment,the SLEDAI declined to inactive scores.Serum IL-10 was decreased significantly,and expression of Fas and FasL on T cells was also reduced.Declined apoptosis was predominant only in CD4~+T cell subset.When sera with high level of IL-10 were used to culture PBMCs from healthy controls,activated caspase 8 was elevated in CD3~+T,CD4~+T and CD8~+T cells.The study showed that serum IL-10 induced apoptosis of T cell subsets via the caspase8 pathway initiated by Fas signaling.Increased apoptosis of T cells contributes to autoantigen burden,which is pathogenic in the development of SLE.     

Role of interleukin-18 in human natural killer cell is associated with interleukin-2

Human natural killer (NK) cells constitute an important cellular component of innate immunity, capable of killing infected and transformed cells. The proliferation and activation of NK cells are regulated by various cytokines. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) promotes NK cell activation; however, whether the effects of IL-18 on NK cell are associated with other cytokines is still unknown. In this study, we observed that IL-18 induced NK cell apoptosis and inhibited NK cell expansion in the presence of low concentrations of interleukin-2 (IL-2), while high concentrations of IL-2 overcame these effects of IL-18, and high concentrations of IL-2 promoted the stimulatory activity of IL-18 on NK cells. At a low concentration of IL-2, IL-18 induced NK cell apoptosis in part through activation of the FasL/Fas- and TNFα/TNFR-mediated death receptor signaling by enhancing FasL expression and inhibiting c-FLIP_long expression. However, high concentrations of IL-2 strongly blocked IL-18-induced NK cell apoptosis through alleviating IL-18-induced FasL expression and activation of Fas-mediated death signaling and increasing anti-apoptosis molecule (Bcl-X_L). These results reveal that the effects of IL-18 on human NK cell are associated with IL-2 concentration and suggest the importance of IL-2 level in cytokine immunotherapy.     

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.     

Release of preformed Fas ligand in soluble form is the major factor for activation-induced death of Jurkat T cells.

Interaction of Fas/APO-1 (CD95) and its ligand (FasL) plays an important role in the activation-induced cell death (AICD) of T lymphocytes. In the present work, the contribution of soluble FasL to AICD of the human T-cell line Jurkat has been studied. Jurkat cells prestimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) induced the death of non-activated Jurkat cells, and also of L1210Fas, but not that of Fas-negative L1210 cells. Culture supernatants from prestimulated Jurkat cells were highly toxic to their non-activated counterparts. Time-course analysis revealed that PHA-stimulated Jurkat cells quickly release (less than 15 min) to the medium a toxic molecule following a biphasic pattern, with maximal cytotoxic activities at 1 hr and 7 hr after stimulation. The cytotoxic effect of those supernatants was prevented by the addition of a blocking anti-Fas monoclonal antibody, suggesting that PHA-stimulated Jurkat cells exert Fas-based cytotoxicity mainly through the release of soluble FasL. The constitutive intracellular expression of FasL in non-activated Jurkat cells and its release as a consequence of PHA activation were detected by immunostaining and immunoblotting using an anti-FasL antibody. These data indicate that, at least in Jurkat cells, AICD is mainly mediated by the rapid release of performed FasL in soluble form upon stimulation.     

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.     

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.     

ICA、PJA逆转人高转移肺癌细胞Fas/FasL途径免疫逃逸机制的研究

目的：研究ICA、PJA对人高转移肺癌细胞PG细胞免疫逃逸的逆转作用。方法：MTT法检测ICA、PJh对PG细胞增殖的影响以及对CD3AK杀伤敏感性的影响。流式细胞仪检测细胞表面分子Fas、FasL表达水平和细胞凋亡。应用PG细胞与Jurkat T细胞其培养的方法体外研究FasL诱导T淋巴细胞凋亡的作用。结果：PG细胞高表达FasL，低表达Fas，对CD3AK细胞杀伤敏感性较低，并在与Jurkat T细胞共培养中诱导高表达Fas的Jurkat T细胞凋亡。：ICA、PJA对PG细胞有明显的增殖抑制作用。ICA可明显提高PG细胞Fas的表达率。ICA、PJA可明显降低PG细胞FasL的表达率。ICA、PJA可使PG细胞与Jurkat T细胞共培养中，降低Jurkat T细胞的凋亡率。ICA、PJA可提高CD3AK细胞对PG细胞的杀伤活性。结论：ICA、PJA可逆转人高转移肺癌细胞PG通过Fas／FasL途径逃避机体免疫活性细胞的攻击。     

Soluble egg antigen-stimulated T helper lymphocyte apoptosis and evidence for cell death mediated by FasL(+) T and B cells during murine Schistosoma mansoni infection

Granuloma formation around schistosomal eggs is induced by soluble egg antigens (SEA) and mediated by the activity of CD4(+) Th lymphocytes and their cytokines. Regulation of the inflammatory Th cell response during infection is still insufficiently understood. The hypothesis of this study was that activation-induced cell death (AICD) of CD4(+) T cells is involved in the immune inflammatory response. This study investigated the dynamics of splenic and granuloma CD4(+) Th cell apoptosis and Fas ligand (FasL) expression during the acute and chronic stages of murine schistosomal infection. Enhanced apoptosis of freshly isolated CD4(+) Th lymphocytes commenced after egg deposition and persisted during the peak and modulated phases of granuloma formation. After oviposition, CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD19(+) splenocytes and granuloma cells expressed elevated levels of FasL but FasL expression declined during the downmodulated stage of infection. In culture, SEA induced splenic and granuloma CD4(+) T-cell apoptosis and stimulated expression of FasL on splenic but not granuloma CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells, and CD19(+) B cells. SEA-stimulated splenocytes and granuloma cells preferentially lysed a Fas-transfected target cell line. Depletion of B cells from SEA-stimulated splenic cultures decreased CD4(+) T cell apoptosis. Coculture of purified splenic B cells with CD4(+) T cells and adoptive transfer of purified B cells indicated that antigen-stimulated B cells can kill CD4(+) Th cells. However, CD4(+) T cells were the dominant mediators of apoptosis in the granuloma. This study indicates that AICD is involved in the apoptosis of CD4(+) T cells during schistosomal infection.     

血必净对活化诱导T细胞凋亡的调节

目的 观察活化诱导对脾脏T淋巴细胞凋亡、凋亡相关基因mRNA表达及caspase3活性的影响,以及活血化瘀中药的调节作用.方法 提取BALB/c小鼠脾脏T淋巴细胞并培养,以Con A+IL-2诱导T细胞活化凋亡,MTT法检测细胞增殖活性,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率,RT-PCR检测Fas、FasL、Bcl-2、Bax、IL-2 mRNA表达水平,分光光度法测定caspase3酶活性,并观察活血化瘀中药对上述各项指标的影响.结果 活化T淋巴细胞于诱导18h后凋亡率明显增加,于诱导6h时未见FasL、Bax mRNA表达,Fas、Bcl-2 mRNA表达无明显变化;于诱导18 h后Fas、FasL、Bax mRNA表达升高,Bel-2 mRNA表达下降,caspase3活性增高.活血化瘀中药可降低T细胞凋亡,并可分别降低Fas、FasL、Bax mRNA表达,提高Bcl-2 mRNA表达,减轻easpase3酶活性.在活化诱导早期(6 h)促进T淋巴细胞内IL-2 mRNA表达,在晚期(18 h)减少IL-2 mRNA表达.结论 过度活化是脾脏T淋巴细胞异常凋亡的诱发因素,而凋亡的发生与Fas、FasL、Bax、Bcl-2 mRNA表达的改变有关.活血化瘀中药可通过调节IL-2及凋亡相关基因mRNA表达而减轻脾脏T淋巴细胞凋亡,同时可以促进T淋巴细胞的增殖活性.