Monochloramine enhances Fas (APO-1/CD95)-induced apoptosis in Jurkat T cells

Monochloramine derivatives are physiological oxidants produced by activated neutrophils. We report the effects of chemically prepared monochloramine (NH2Cl) on Fas-induced apoptosis in Jurkat T cells. When the cells were pretreated with NH2Cl (20-70 microM), subsequent addition of apoptosis-inducing anti-Fas antibody resulted in a synergistic enhancement of apoptosis. Treatment of NH2Cl (50-70 microM) alone resulted in a slight but definite apoptosis. Caspase activities, as measured by DEVD and IETD cleavage activities, were also elevated synergistically by NH2Cl + anti-Fas antibody stimulation. Moreover, a broad caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, almost completely inhibited the apoptosis induced by NH2Cl and/or anti-Fas antibody. Fas expression on the Jurkat cell surface was not affected by the NH2Cl treatment. After 3 h of NH2Cl treatment, when the apoptosis was beginning to increase, the cells showed cytochrome c release from mitochondria, proteolytic activation of caspase 9, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, regardless of Fas stimulation. Z-VAD-fmk almost completely inhibited this poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, but not cytochrome c release. By contrast, Fas stimulation alone resulted in neither cytochrome c release nor caspase 9 activation at 3 h, and the increase in the DEVD cleavage activity and apoptosis became evident at later time points. These results suggested that NH2Cl enhanced Fas-induced apoptosis through the cytochrome c release and caspase 9 activation at the early stage of apoptosis. Chloramines derived from acute inflammation may modify immune reactions, such as cell-mediated cytotoxicity and some autoimmune diseases, by the enhancement of Fas-induced apoptosis.     

Expression of the Fas/APO-1/CD95 antigen mediating apoptosis in human leukemic cells

The Fas/APO-1 antigen is not detected on peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia in the chronic phase, but is expressed on blast cells in 50% of patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia in blast crisis. The expression of Fas/APO-1 correlates with that of leukocytic CD34 antigen. In patients with lymphomas, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or acute myeloblastic leukemia some tumor cells carry Fas/APO-1 antigen. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 11, pp. 544–546, November, 1996     

Local Fas/APO-1 (CD95) ligand-mediated tumor cell killing in vivo

Fas/APO-1 (CD95) is a cell surface receptor which mediates apoptosis when ligated by specific antibodies or by its recently cloned natural ligand, FasL. We have studied the cytotoxic potential of FasL in vivo using Fas/APO-1-expressing Yac-1 cells as targets. Supernatant harvested from Neuro-2a cells transfected with the murine FasL cDNA contains FasL and transduces a potent apoptotic signal to Yac-1 cells in vitro. Specificity of FasL-mediated cytotoxicity was confirmed by competition assays using soluble Fas or anti-Fas/APO-1 F(ab')₂ fragments which specifically interfere with FasL-Fas/APO-1 interactions. Intraperitoneal injection of FasL-containing supernatant efficiently killed Yac-1 target cells which had been implanted in capsules into the peritoneal cavity of mice. Analysis of the target cells revealed DNA fragmentation and nuclear changes typical of apoptosis. As previously shown, intraperitoneal injection of anti-Fas/APO-1 antibodies caused liver failure (Ogasawara, J., Watanabe, F. R., Adachi, M., Matsuzawa, A., Kasugai, T., Kitamura, Y., Itoh, N., Suda, T. and Nagata, S., Nature 1993. 364: 806) and was observed at doses which did not reduce Yac-1 cell viability. In contrast, FasL did not induce histopathology in the liver when applied intraperitoneally at doses cytotoxic for Yac-1 cells. However, intravenous administration of FasL induced lethal liver hemorrhages and hepatocyte apoptosis. Thus, locally applied FasL kills tumor cells very efficiently without systemic toxicity and may therefore represent a candidate for local tumor treatment.     

CD95 (Fas/APO-1)/CD95L in the gastrointestinal tract: fictions and facts

CD95 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family. It is constitutively expressed on the basolateral membrane of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and induces apoptosis when cross-linked by its natural ligand, CD95L. The significance of providing such a death-inducing mechanism in IEC is not yet clear. In recent years a multitude of studies have been published addressing the question of where and under which conditions CD95L is produced in the gut in the normal and neoplastic situation. Although some of these studies have considerably influenced our view on the role of the CD95/CD95L system, it appears necessary to critically review published data which are in part confusing and contradictory. To date compelling evidence of CD95L expression in untransformed IEC is lacking, and involvement of the CD95/CD95L system in the physiological epithelial cell turnover appears unlikely. Whereas CD95L is overexpressed in T-cells under inflammatory conditions, its significance for mucosal damage in inflammatory bowel diseases is obscured by possible redundancies in cell death mechanisms. Finally, recent data indicate that the intriguing CD95L counterattack concept in gastrointestinal tract cancer needs to be revised.     

Novel Fas (CD95/APO-1) mutations in infants with a lymphoproliferative disorder

Fas is an apoptosis-signaling receptor important for homeostasis of the immune system. In this study, Fas-mediated apoptosis and Fas mutations were analyzed in three Japanese children from two families with a lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia and an increase in TCR alphabeta+ CD4- CD8- T cells. Apoptosis induced by anti- Fas mAb was defective in both activated T cells and B cells, and granulocytes from these patients. Truncated Fas receptor lacking the cytoplasmic death domain caused by a point mutation in the splice region of intron 7 were demonstrated in two siblings. A homozygous point mutation in the splice acceptor of intron 3 was found in the Fas gene of the third patient, which resulted in the skipping of exon 4 and complete loss of Fas expression. Corresponding to these mutations, soluble Fas concentrations were decreased and reciprocally soluble Fas ligands were increased in patients' sera. Interestingly, co-stimulation by immobilized anti-Fas mAb in T cells from the two siblings was comparable to that seen in normal T cells. These results suggest that Fas-mediated apoptosis plays a pivotal role in immunological homeostasis in vivo, especially regarding clonal deletion of immune cells in humans.      

Regulation of cell surface APO-1/Fas (CD95) ligand expression by metalloproteases

APO-1/Fas (CD95) ligand (APO-1L) induces apoptosis in sensitive target cells. Activation-induced T cell death and Ca²⁺-independent cytotoxicity in perforin knockout mice are mediated by APO-1L. To define whether APO-1L is expressed on the surface of activated T cells and to investigate the mechanisms leading to the release of a soluble form, we developed rabbit anti-APO-1L antibodies (Ab). The purified rabbit Ab detected the mature forms of the human and mouse APO-1L of approximately 42 and 40kDa. In addition, the Ab recognized the non-glycosylated form of APO-1L of approximately 32-33 kDa. In activated human T cells, the soluble form of APO-1L was detectable with a moleculas mass of 26 kDa. Immunofluorescence of three human T lymphoblastoid cell lines showed that activation of these cells by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/ionomycin induced a significant increase in cell surface APO-1L only in the presence of metalloprotease inhibitors. Zn²⁺, but not Ca²⁺, prevented the increase in surface APO-1L observed in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline. Blocking of other classes of proteases (serine- and acid-proteases, chymotrypsin) had no effect. Increased expression of surface APO-1L by metalloprotease inhibitors was not dependent on T cell activation, as the metalloprotease inhibitors also modulated the low level of constitutive APO-1L expression. These results suggest that cell surface expression of human APO-1L is regulated by Zn²⁺-dependent metalloproteases. Cleavage of surface APO-1L may act as a regulatory mechanism to prevent accumulation of the membrane-bound form and may cause systemic effects of the APO-1L.     

Isolation and characterization of ICO-160 monoclonal antibodies to CD95(Fas/APO-1) antigen that mediates apoptosis

Isotype IgG2a monoclonal antibodies ICO-160, detecting CD95(Fas/APO-1) antigen, were isolated and characterized. They react with 26.8±15.6% donor lymphocytes in the indirect immunofluorescence test, do not react with granulocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets, and stain part of monocytes. Monoclonal antibodies ICO-160 induce apoptosis in CD95(Fas/APO-1)-positive cells. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 6, pp. 670–673, June, 1998     

Activation induces apoptosis in Herpesvirus saimiri-transformed T cells independent of CD95 (Fas,APO-1)

Signaling via the T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex of pre-activated T cells induces apoptosis. Such an activation-induced cell death (AICD) is thought to play an important role in the regulation of cellular immune responses. In this study we analyzed pathways of AICD by using human T cells transformed by Herpesvirus saimiri. These growth-transformed T cells show the phenotype of activated mature T cells and continue to express a functionally intact TCR. We show that human H. saimiri-transformed T cell clones readily undergo cell death upon signaling via the TCR/CD3 complex or via phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) + ionomycin. The AICD in H. saimiri-transformed T cells was detectable a few hours after activation and it was not affected by the presence of interleukin (IL)-2 or by anti-CD4 cross-linking. However, AICD required tyrosine phosphorylation, since it could be blocked by herbimycin A. Cyclosporin A (CsA) did not block the development of AICD, but other consequences of activation in H. saimiri-transformed T cells like the production of interferon-γ. Surprisingly, the development of AICD was not reduced by neutralizing antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α or blocking antibodies directed to CD95 (Fas, APO-1), although H. saimiri-transformed T cells were sensitive to CD95 ligation. To confirm that this form of AICD is really independent of CD95, we have established an H. saimiri-transformed T cell line from a patient with a homozygous deletion in the CD95 gene. This CD95-deficient T cell line was as sensitive to AICD as other CD95-expressing H. saimiri-transformed T cells. In conclusion, we describe here a type of AICD in H. saimiri-transformed T cells that is independent of CD95 and TNF-α, not sensitive to CsA, but requires tyrosine phosphorylation. This system should be useful for the investigation of CD95-independent forms of AICD.     

TGF-beta1 modulates Fas (APO-1/CD95)-mediated apoptosis of human pre-B cell lines

We have previously shown that Fas-induced apoptosis is markedly enhanced by IL-7 in human pre-B but not pro-B cell lines. In addition, pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR) ligation significantly potentiates the IL-7 effects on Fas-triggered pre-B cell death. We show herein that transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 sharply reduces Fas-induced death rate of pre-B but not pro-B cells. TGF-beta 1 causes inhibition of Fas-mediated disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and cleavage of caspase 8, Bid and caspase 3. Bcl2 expression is markedly increased in TGF-beta 1-treated pre-B cells, whereas cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein long (c-FLIPL), Bcl-XL, Bax, and Bad expression remains unchanged. TGF-beta 1 causes a selective growth arrest of pre-B cells in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and induces a partial down-modulation of both Fas and pre-BCR expression. All TGF-beta 1-mediated effects, but Bcl2 up-regulation, can be reproduced by the LY294002 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt inhibitor but not by inhibitors of the MAPK/ERK (MEK) and Janus kinase (Jak)/STAT pathways, which promote cell death. Akt phosphorylation is strongly inhibited by TGF-beta1 in pre-B but not pro-B cells and is not modified by Fas engagement. Altogether, our findings suggest that TGF-beta1 prevents Fas-induced apoptosis of pre-B lines by inhibiting PI3K pathway and by enhancing expression of Bcl2. They also suggest that the PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in the control of Fas and pre-BCR expression, a checkpoint in B cell development.     

Comparison of Fas(Apo-1/CD95)- and perforin-mediated cytotoxicity in primary T lymphocytes

Cytolytic T lymphocytes kill target cells by two independentcytolytic mechanisms. One pathway depends on the polarized secretionof granule-stored proteins including perform and granzymes,causing target cell death through membrane and DNA damage. Thesecond cytolytic effector system relies on the interaction ofthe Fas ligand (FasL) on the effector cell with its receptor(Fas) on the target cell, leading to apoptotic cell death. Usingmixed lymphocyte culture (MLC)-derived primary T lymphocytesof perforin-knockout and gld (with non-functional FasL) mice,the molecular basis of the two killing mechanisms was compared.The activity of both pathways was dependent on extracellularCa²⁺. Incubation of MLC-stimulated primary T cells with proteinsynthesis inhibitors prior to TCR triggering impaired FasL cellsurface expression and abolished cytolytic activity, althoughthe cells exhibited an intracellular pool of FasL. The perforin-dependentmechanism induced cell death more rapidly, although both pathwaysultimately showed similar killing efficiencies. Both pathwaysinduced comparable levels of DNA degradation, but Fas-inducedmembrane damage was less pronounced. We conclude that upon TCRtriggering FasL may be recruited in part from pre-existing intracellularstores. However, efficient induction of target cell death stilldepends on the continuous biosynthesis of FasL molecules.     

Elevated serum levels of soluble Fas/APO-1 (CD95) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Fas (APO-1/CD95)-mediated apoptosis plays an important role in liver cell destruction in viral hepatitis. Using sandwich ELISA, we measured serum levels of soluble Fas (sFas) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody. sFas levels were significantly higher in HCC patients (median 4.07 ng/ml; range 0.14–29.18 ng/ml) than levels in age-matched healthy donors (0.29 ng/ml; 0–4.90 ng/ml) (P < 0.0001) and HBsAg or anti-HCV antibody-positive patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) (2.16 ng/ml; 0.24–8.39 ng/ml) (P = 0.0015). An arbitrary cut-off level of 3.03 ng/ml (mean + 3 s.d. of controls) revealed the positive frequency of sFas in each group: 1.7% in healthy subjects, 25.9% in LC, and 59.0% in HCC (sensitivity 59.0% and specificity 74.1%). All HCC sera tested contained transmembrane-deleted sFas and some contained another sFas lacking the Fas C-terminal. The positive frequency of either sFas (59.0%) or α-fetoprotein (AFP) (57.4%) in HCC patients reached 77.0%. HCC patients with multiple tumour foci (7.53 ng/ml; 1.40–29.18 ng/ml) had significantly higher sFas levels than did patients with a solitary tumour (2.70 ng/ml; 0.14–19.0 ng/ml) (P = 0.003). In all of the sFas-positive patients with a solitary tumour, surgical removal of the tumour reduced sFas levels to the negative in the first post-op week. These findings suggest that sFas may be closely linked with HCC and may be a candidate for a clinical parameter for HCC.     

Fas (APO-1/CD95) ligand and Fas expression in renal cell carcinomas: correlation with the prognostic factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Fas ligand (FasL, CD95L) is a type II transmembrane protein of the tumor necrosis factor family that induces cells to send an apoptotic signal to cells expressing Fas (CD95, APO-1). It has been shown that cancers have a dysregulated expression of Fas and FasL system, conferring a survival advantage. It is important to understand FasL and Fas expression in tumors, because the growth of cancer might be controlled by Fas-mediated apoptosis. METHODS: The expressions of FasL and Fas were studied by immunohistochemical analyses in 51 cases of renal cell carcinomas and the adjacent normal renal tissues, respectively. In addition, their expressions were compared with prognostic factors, such as tumor size, nuclear grade, TNM stage, and histologic types. RESULTS: In nonneoplastic renal tissues, FasL was expressed in all nephron segments, whereas Fas also expressed in all tubules, except for glomeruli. In renal cell carcinomas, FasL protein was detected in 50 (98.0%) of 51 cases, whereas Fas expressed in 38 (74.5%) of 51 cases. In fact, the immunostaining of Fas was less intense than that in the adjacent normal segments of all cases. The staining pattern showing both high expression of FasL and low expression of Fas was found in 36 (70.6%) (P = .04) of 51 cases, most of which were Fuhrman grade 2 or 3 tumors. However, the expression pattern did not correlate statistically with the tumor size, histologic type, or clinical stage. On the other hand, most grade 4 tumors displayed high expression of both FasL and Fas (P<.001). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that high expression of FasL and low expression of Fas protein in renal cell carcinomas may play a role in evading surveillance of the immune system. In addition, the FasL and Fas expressions appear to have a therapeutic implication for high-grade tumors rather than a prognostic one.     

Fas (CD95)-transduced signal preferentially stimulates lupus peripheral T lymphocytes

Fas (CD95) is a cell surface receptor whose biological function in circulating peripheral T cells is not well understood. To address the question of abnormal T cell sensitivity to Fas stimulation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we studied Fas-transduced stimulation and apoptosis in peripheral blood T cells from patients with SLE and normal control. Immobilized anti-Fas monoclonal antibodies (mAb) (imCH-11; IgM type) significantly stimulated SLE T cell proliferation compared to T cells from normal donors and patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( p < 0.003 and p < 0.005, respectively). The soluble form of CH-11 and other immobilized anti-Fas mAb (UB-2, ZB-4; IgG type) failed to stimulate lupus T cells while immobilized human Fas ligand did. Furthermore, imCH-11 induced IL-2 and IL-6 mRNA expression. However, imCH-11 activation failed to induce expression of the T cell activation surface molecules CD25 and CD69. Addition of exogenous ceramide, a second messenger for Fas-mediated apoptosis signaling, also induced T cell proliferation in SLE and normal controls. Moreover, fumonisin B1, a specific ceramide synthase inhibitor, and caspase inhibitors markedly suppressed imCH-11 induced T cell proliferation, suggesting that the ceramide pathway may be involved in Fas-transduced stimulation signals in SLE T cells. These results show that SLE T cells have an alteration in the Fas signal transduction pathway leading to cell proliferation. This defect may be important in Fas-mediated peripheral immune homeostasis.