Cytotoxic T cell (CTL) covers several subtypes, which are CD8+, CD4 and CD4-CD8-. CTL derives from T cell repertoire in lymphoid hematopoietic stem cells. It matures in thymus and is activated in peripheral lymphoid tissues. Effector CTL kills the target cells by 2 ways. One is apoptotic effect mediated by FasL-Fas pathway and the other one is cytolytic effect mediated by granzymes. CTL has aroused great attention due to its significance in anti-tumor and anti-virus.
Animals ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; immunology ; Perforin ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; fas Receptor ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of Fas mRNA and protein expression and apoptosis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSNorthern blot and flow cytometry (TUNEL method) were used to detect the expression of Fas mRNA and Fas protein, cell cycle and apoptotic level in oral squamous cell carcinoma. The relationship between Fas gene expression and OSCC apoptosis was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSFas mRNA and protein could be detected in all five normal oral mucosa specimens. There was positive correlation between expression of Fas mRNA/protein and cell differentiation as well as apoptosis in OSCC (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of Fas gene was highly correlated with the differentiation and apoptosis in OSCC.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

CD40 Ligand ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

This paper is to investigate the apoptosis effect of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells induced by nanosecond plused electric fileds (nsPEFs) and to study its influence on Fas-mediated apoptosis. SKOV3 cell were exposed to the 45kV/cm of field intensity, 30 pulses, and 50ns, 100ns, and 200ns of pulse width, respectively. Flow cytometry were used to assay apoptosis. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to detect DNA ladder. Real time PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were used to measure the expression level of Fas, FasL, caspase-8 and Bid. Flow cytometry results revealed that the late apoptosis rates and (or) necrosis were significantly higher than those in control group (3.03% +/- 0.57%) (P < 0.05), with apoptosis rates and (or) necrosis being (18.31 +/- 0.65%), (45.55% +/- 3.71%), (47.47% +/- 7.01%) in the groups of 50ns, 100ns, 200ns, respectively. A typical DNA ladder pattern of internucleosomal fragmentation was observed in the groups of 50ns and 100ns, but not clear in the 200ns group. RT-PCR results revealed that the mRNA expression of Fas, FasL, caspase8 and Bid were significantly increased in groups of 50ns, 100ns, but significantly decreased in group of 200ns (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, Western blot analysis demonstrated that the Fas, FasL, Caspase-8 and Bid expression were significantly higher in groups of 50ns, 100ns, but significantly lower in group of 200ns (P < 0.05). It indicated that 45kV/cm, 50ns, 100ns nsPEFs could induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells and activate Fas-mediated apoptosis pathway.
Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Electroporation ; methods ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the significance of Fas and Fas-L expression in adenocarcinoma of uterine cervix.

METHODSBoth carcinoma tissue and their surrounding tissues from 36 patients with adenocarcinoma of uterine cervix, previously untreated either by radiation or chemotherapy, were studied for the expression of Fas and Fas-L by immunohistochemical stain with DNA apoptosis fragment detected by TUNEL.

RESULTSThe TUNEL labeling index was negatively correlated with differentiation of adenocarcinoma of cervix. Compared to highly differentiated and moderately differentiated tumor, the TUNEL labeling index was reduced obviously in poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (P < 0.01). Fas expression was detected in 31 cases (86%) while there were only 3 weakly stained in the normal endocervical glands around the carcinoma. The 5 unstained carcinomas were 3 highly differentiated and 2 moderately differentiated. The positively stained Fas was associated with differentiation; the stronger the stain, the less differentiation there was. The Fas-L expression was detected in all adenocarcinomas while there was only 1 weakly stained in the normal ones. No significant difference was found in the expression of Fas-L in carcinomas with different degrees of differentiation. No correlation was observed between Fas and Fas-L expression.

CONCLUSIONSThe Fas expression is positively correlated with the different degrees of differentiation and Fas-L expression may be associated with the escape from of immunal surveillance.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; biosynthesis

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of diallyl disulfide (DADS) on the apoptosis of K562 cells and to explore the mechanism of K562 apoptosis induced by DADS. The K562 cells were treated with different concentrations of DADS for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The concentrations of DADS were as follows: 0 (control group), 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/L. The morphologic changes of leukemia K562 cells treated with DADS were observed by Hoechst33 258 staining. The apoptosis of K562 cells treated with different concentrations of DADS for 24, 48 and 72 hours was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression changes of Fas and FasL were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after K562 cells were treated with different concentrations of DADS for 48 hours. The results indicated that the characteristics of apoptosis in K562 cells induced by DADS were as follows: reduction of nucleus, chromatin condensation and nuclear membrane rupture. The flow cytometry with PI straining showed that after 24 hours of DADS treatment the apoptosis rate of K562 cells increased from 11.60 ± 0.83% at the concentration of 10 mg/L to 37.94 ± 0.87% at the concentration of 40 mg/L. The apoptosis rate of K562 cells increased from 37.94 ± 0.87% (24 hours) to 47.02 ± 0.66% (72 hours) after treatment with DADS of 10 mg/L increasing to 40 mg/L DADS. The Fas mRNA expression levels of the related apoptotic genes increased after K562 cells were treated with different concentrations of DADS for 48 hours, while FasL mRNA expression decreased significantly after DADS treatment for 48 hours, compared with those in the control group (p < 0.05). It is concluded that DADS can induce the apoptosis of human leukemia K562 cells in a time-and concentration-dependent manners. The activation of Fas/FasL pathway may play an important role in the K562 cell apoptosis induced by DADS, which is associated with increasing Fas gene expression and decreasing FasL gene expression.
Allyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Disulfides ; pharmacology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Signal Transduction ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Fas/FasL in infantile hemangiomas and discuss the role of Fas/FasL in the pathologic evolution of infantile hemangioma.

METHODThe EnVision immunohistochemical stain and RT-PCR technique was used to examine the expression of Fas/FasL protein and mRNA in the infantile hemangiomas.

RESULTS(1) In the early and middle proliferating stage, a number of infantile hemangioma cells expressed Fas. In the late proliferating stage, the number of positive cells increased obviously and the expression of Fas mRNA was reaching the strongest level. In the early regressing stage the Fas still existed in some cells and after that the expression decreased quickly. (2) Up to the middle proliferating stage, there were a few of FasL(+) cells foound. In the late proliferating stage, the number of FasL(+) cells increased significantly. From the early regressing stage, the number of FasL(+) cells decreased rapidly and disappeared.

CONCLUSIONThere may exist significant correlation between the expression of Fas/FasL and the development of the infantile hemangioma cells. The apoptosis of the infantile hemangioma cells mediated by Fas/ FasL may be the major reason of the spontaneous involution of infantile hemangioma.

Apoptosis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Infant ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of Fas, Fas ligand (FasL) and CD80 and function of FasL on the surface of acute myelomonocytic leukemia cells from WEHI-3 line. The expression of Fas, FasL and CD80 on the surface of WEHI-3 were detected by flow cytometry, the apoptosis of YAC-1 cell induced by FasL on the surface of WEHI-3 were detected by (3)H-TdR incorporation. The results showed that the expression rate of Fas, FasL and CD80 on the surface of WEHI-3 cells were (6.75 +/- 2.31)% (n = 5), (63.73 +/- 5.23)% (n = 5) and (5.06 +/- 0.41)% (n = 5) respectively. The apoptosis rate of YAC-1 cells (target cells) co-cultured with WEHI-3 cells (Effector cells) at the rate of 1:3, 1:10 and 1:30 were (26 +/- 4.5)%, (35 +/- 3.2)% and (43 +/- 2.7)% (n = 5) respectively. It is concluded that WEHI-3 cells have high expression of FasL and low expression of Fas and CD80 on their cell membrane, and can induce the apoptosis of Fas(+) YAC-1 cells.
Apoptosis ; physiology ; B7-1 Antigen ; biosynthesis ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Fas Ligand Protein ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; fas Receptor ; biosynthesis

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the traditional Chinese medicine psoralen (PSO) plus long wave ultraviolet A (PUVA) on apoptosis in HL-60 leukemia cells and its mechanism. The effect of PUVA on HL-60 cell growth was assayed by MTT method and the changes of ultrastructure of cells were observed by electron microscopy. The apoptosis ratios, changes of mitochondrial membrane potential, expression of Fas and FasL protein and Fas and FasL mRNA were detected by FCM and fluorescent quantitation RT-PCR respectively. The expression of Caspase 8 and Caspase 3 protein were detected by immunocytochemistry (ICC). The results showed that the growth of HL-60 cells were inhibited by PUVA in time-and concentration-dependent manner through inducing cell apoptosis. When the irradiation time of long wave ultraviolet A lasted 15 minutes and the concentration of PSO was 80 microg/ml, the inhibition of HL-60 cell proliferation and apoptosis ratios reached the peak. There were obvious apoptotic ultrastructure changes and decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential in HL-60 cells after treatment with PUVA. The expression of Fas mRAN increased and expression of FasL mRNA decreased after treating with PUVA for 4 hours, and the same results of Fas, FasL expression on protein level were obtained also after treating with PUVA for 24 hours. The expression of caspase 8 and caspase 3 protein enhanced and reached the peak after treating with PUVA for 8 hours. It is concluded that the PUVA can inhibit the growth of HL-60 cells and induce apoptosis of these cells. The possible mechanism is supposed to be up-regulating Fas, down-regulating FasL levels and then activating the levels of caspase 8 and caspase 3. The decreasing of mitochondrial membrane potential may be involved in this process probably.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Ficusin ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Ultraviolet Rays ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the serum and placental levels of FAS and FASL in preeclampsia (PE) and to study its relationship with the disease.

METHODSForty women with preeclampsia and 39 healthy pregnant women were recruited and samples of serum and placentas were collected. The expression of Fas and FasL in placentas was detected with Western blot and the concentration of soluble Fas and FasL in serum was detected with ELISA method.

RESULTSerum levels of soluble Fas in PE group were significantly higher than those of healthy pregnant women (2.11+/-0.95 mg/L compared with 1.57+/-0.60 mg/L, P<0.05), and serum levels of soluble FasL in PE group were also significantly higher than those in controls (4.43+/-1.90 g/L compared with 3.48+/-1.53 g/L, P<0.01). There were no significant differences in Fas and FasL levels in placentas between PE group and healthy pregnant women (P>0.05 for both).

CONCLUSIONThe elevated serum Fas and FasL levels are closely associated with preeclampsia, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Adult ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fas Ligand Protein ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Placenta ; metabolism ; Pre-Eclampsia ; blood ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; fas Receptor ; blood