anti-FasL mAb Research Articles

Hepatic stellate cells promote immunotolerance following orthotopic liver transplantation in rats via induction of T cell apoptosis and regulation of Th2/Th3-like cell cytokine production

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have been demonstrated to have immunoinhibitory activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of HSCs in the development of immunotolerance following liver transplantation. A rat liver transplantation tolerance model [donor Lewis into recipient Dark Agouti (DA)] and rejection (donor DA into recipient Lewis) was established. On the 7th day following transplantation, the HSCs and T cells were isolated from the rats of either the tolerance or rejection group and cultured together. The apoptosis rate of the T cells was determined 24 h later by flow cytometry following staining with anti-CD3 mAb and Annexin V-FITC/PI. Additionally, the FasL expression of HSCs was determined by flow cytometry following staining with anti-FasL mAb. The protein levels of IL-2, TNF-α, TGF-β and IL-10 in the supernatant collected from mixed lymphocyte reaction cultures of HSCs and T cells for 5 days were measured using ELISA assays. HSCs isolated from the tolerance group had a higher T-cell apoptosis induction activity compared with those of the rejection group. The activity of the HSCs was partially reversed by FasL blocking mAb. Accordingly, the FasL expression level of HSCs in the tolerance group was revealed to be higher than that of the rejection group. Moreover, HSCs stimulated IL-10 and TGF-β production in the tolerance group. This study suggests that HSCs are involved in liver transplantation immune tolerance via the induction of T-cell apoptosis partially mediated by the Fas/FasL pathway and the activation of Th2/Th3-like cell cytokine production.

Recovered Patients with Stevens–Johson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Maintain Long-Lived IFN-γ and sFasL Memory Response

There is evidence that drug-specific T cells are involved in inducing keratinocyte apoptosis in acute stage of Steven-Johson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). However, there are few studies that have attempted to examine T cell memory responses over time. We sought to determine the duration of IFN-γ and sFasL memory response to causal drugs in patients with SJS and TEN after remission. Eight patients with previous SJS and TEN were enrolled. Memory T cells were measured by 10-day cultured IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot-forming cell (ELISpot) assay. Effector T-cell responses were measured by ex vivo IFN-γ ELISpot assay and sFasL ELISA. The sFasL-mediated toxicities of drug-stimulated PBMC supernatants against keratinocyte line were further investigated by MTT proliferation assay and Annexin-V staining. We observed significant cultured and ex vivo IFN-γ ELISpot responses against causal drugs in all 8 patients. In addition, the sFasL levels were specifically increased in the supernatant of PBMCs cultured with causal drugs from 6 of 8 patients. Drug-stimulated PBMC supernatants were cytotoxic against keratinocyte line, which was inhibited by anti-FasL mAb in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings confirmed that drug-specific IFN-γ and sFasL memory response against causal drugs could be sustained over several years and further suggest that patients should avoid causal drug re-exposure after the recovery of TEN and SJS.

Significant Inhibition of Human CD8+ Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte-Mediated Xenocytotoxicity by Overexpression of the Human Decoy Fas Antigen

Human CD8(+) CTL-mediated killing may be important for xenograft rejection. The purpose of this study was to explore the preventing methods for CTL-mediated xenocytotoxicity by overexpression of human decoy Fas, which lacks a death domain in its cytoplasmic region, by binding competition with endogenous pig Fas. Moreover, the cytoprotective effect of this CTL-killing of membrane-bound human FasL, which is resistant to metalloproteolytic cleavage, was also assessed. Human CTL were generated by the stimulation of human PBMC with swine endothelial cells (SEC) and human IL-2, subsequently a CD8(+) population were selected by magnetic beads and employed as the effector cells. Stable SEC transfectants expressing either decoy Fas or membrane-bound FasL were established. Double-transfectants were also created. The amelioration of cytotoxicity to these transfectants was examined with Cr release assay. RESULTS.: Human CD8(+) CTL were highly detrimental against parental SEC. This CTL-killing was strongly inhibited by anti-FasL mAb treatment, however partial suppression was observed by Concanamycin A treatment. The overexpression of either decoy Fas or membrane-bound FasL in SEC markedly inhibited CTL-xenocytotoxicity. The double expressions of these molecules also significantly reduced this xenocytotoxicity despite the low levels of expression of either decoy Fas or membrane-bound FasL. These findings indicate that the strong xenocytotoxicity of human CD8(+) CTL is mediated mainly by the Fas/FasL pathway. The overexpression of either decoy Fas or membrane-bound FasL were quite effective in preventing CTL-killing. Furthermore, the combined expression of both molecules in pig cells may create a window of opportunity for prolonging xenograft survival.

Fas Pulls the Trigger on Psoriasis

Fas/FasL signaling is best known for induction of apoptosis. However, there is an alternate pathway of Fas signaling that induces inflammatory cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-8. This pathway is prominent in cells that express high levels of anti-apoptotic molecules such as Bcl-xL. Because TNF-alpha is central to the pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic epidermis has a low apoptotic index with high expression of Bcl-xL, we hypothesized that inflammatory Fas signaling mediates induction of psoriasis by activated lymphocytes. Noninvolved skin from psoriasis patients was grafted to beige-severe combined immunodeficiency mice, and psoriasis was induced by injection of FasL-positive autologous natural killer cells that were activated by IL-2. Induction of psoriasis was inhibited by injection of a blocking anti-Fas (ZB4) or anti-FasL (4A5) antibody on days 3 and 10 after natural killer cell injection. Anti-Fas monoclonal antibody significantly reduced cell proliferation (Ki-67) and epidermal thickness, with inhibition of epidermal expression of TNF-alpha, IL-15, HLA-DR, and ICAM-1. Fas/FasL signaling is an essential early event in the induction of psoriasis by activated lymphocytes and is necessary for induction of key inflammatory cytokines including TNF-alpha and IL-15.

Interaction of Fas Ligand and Fas Expressed on Osteoclast Precursors Increases Osteoclastogenesis

We incidentally found that osteoclast precursors and mature osteoclasts express Fas ligand (FasL) as well as Fas, which was confirmed by flow cytometry, immunofluorescent staining, and RT-PCR. The aim of this study was to determine the role of FasL in differentiation and cell death of osteoclasts. To study the role of FasL in osteoclastogenesis, neutralizing anti-FasL mAb or rFasL was added during receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis using bone marrow-derived macrophages. Neutralization of endogenous FasL by anti-FasL mAb decreased osteoclastogenesis, whereas rFasL enhanced osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, rFasL up-regulated the secretion of osteoclastogenic cytokines, such as IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, and the activation of NF-kappaB. Functional blocking of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha using IL-1 receptor antagonist and soluble TNFR confirmed that those cytokines mediated the effect of FasL on osteoclastogenesis. The osteoclast precursors were relatively resistant to rFasL-induced apoptosis especially before RANKL treatment, resulting in minimal cell loss by rFasL treatment during osteoclastogenesis. Although rFasL increased the cell death of mature osteoclasts, growth factor withdrawal induced much more cell death. However, anti-FasL mAb did not affect the survival of mature osteoclasts, suggesting that the endogenous FasL does not have a role in the apoptosis of osteoclasts. Finally, in contrast to the effect on apoptosis, rFasL-assisted osteoclastogenesis was not mediated by caspases. In conclusion, FasL has a novel function in bone homeostasis by enhancing the differentiation of osteoclasts, which was not considered previously.

Cytoskeleton-mediated Death Receptor and Ligand Concentration in Lipid Rafts Forms Apoptosis-promoting Clusters in Cancer Chemotherapy

While investigating the mechanism of action of the novel antitumor drug Aplidin, we have discovered a potent and novel cell-killing mechanism that involves the formation of Fas/CD95-driven scaffolds in membrane raft clusters housing death receptors and apoptosis-related molecules. Fas, tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1, and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2/death receptor 5 were clustered into lipid rafts in leukemic Jurkat cells following Aplidin treatment, the presence of Fas being essential for apoptosis. Preformed membrane-bound Fas ligand (FasL) as well as downstream signaling molecules, including Fas-associated death domain-containing protein, procaspase-8, procaspase-10, c-Jun amino-terminal kinase, and Bid, were also translocated into lipid rafts, connecting death receptor extrinsic and mitochondrial intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Blocking Fas/FasL interaction partially inhibited Aplidin-induced apoptosis. Aplidin was rapidly incorporated into membrane rafts, and drug uptake was inhibited by lipid raft disruption. Actin-linking proteins ezrin, moesin, RhoA, and RhoGDI were conveyed into Fas-enriched rafts in drug-treated leukemic cells. Disruption of lipid rafts and interference with actin cytoskeleton prevented Fas clustering and apoptosis. Thus, Aplidin-induced apoptosis involves Fas activation in both a FasL-independent way and, following Fas/FasL interaction, an autocrine way through the concentration of Fas, membrane-bound FasL, and signaling molecules in membrane rafts. These data indicate a major role of actin cytoskeleton in the formation of Fas caps and highlight the crucial role of the clusters of apoptotic signaling molecule-enriched rafts in apoptosis, acting as concentrators of death receptors and downstream signaling molecules and as the linchpin from which a potent death signal is launched.

Fas Ligand Is Required for Resolution of Granulomatous Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis

We previously suggested that CD8(+) T cells promoted resolution of granulomatous experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (G-EAT) at least in part through regulation of Fas ligand (FasL) expression on thyroid epithelial cells. To directly evaluate the role of the Fas pathway in G-EAT resolution, Fas- and FasL-deficient mice on the NOD.H-2h4 background were used as recipients of activated G-EAT effector cells. When MTg-primed wild-type (WT) donor splenocytes were activated and transferred to WT recipients, thyroid lesions reached maximal severity on day 20 and resolved on day 50. Fas, FasL, and FLIP were up-regulated, and many apoptotic inflammatory cells were detected in recipient thyroids on day 20. Fas was predominantly expressed by inflammatory cells, and FasL and FLIP were mainly expressed by thyroid epithelial cells. After depletion of CD8(+) T cells, G-EAT resolution was delayed, FLIP and FasL were predominantly expressed by inflammatory cells, and few inflammatory cells were apoptotic. When WT donor splenocytes were transferred to gld recipients, disease severity on day 20 was similar to that in WT recipients, but resolution was delayed. As in CD8-depleted WT recipients, there were few apoptotic inflammatory cells, and FLIP and FasL were expressed primarily by inflammatory cells. These results indicated that the expression of functional FasL in recipient mice was critical for G-EAT resolution. WT cells induced minimal disease in lpr recipients. This was presumably because donor cells were eliminated by the increased FasL on lpr recipient cells, because donor cells were not eliminated, and the mice developed G-EAT if lpr recipients were given anti-FasL mAb.

PREVENTING HUMAN CD8+ CYTOTOXIC T LYMPHOCYTES (CTL)-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY AGAINST SWINE ENDOTHELIAL CELLS BY OVEREXPRESSION OF HUMAN DECOY FAS ANTIGEN

P1060 Aims: Human CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)-mediated killing in xenograft recipients may be a new immunological obstacle for long-term graft survival. The objectives in this study are to assess the mechanism of human CTL-mediated xenocytotoxicity and to explore the method to prevent this killing with overexpression of human decoy Fas antigen by binding competition with endogenous Fas antigen on swine cells for common ligand, human FasL. Furthermore, we generate a membrane-bound form of human FasL that can not be cleaved with metalloproteinase and assess the usefulness of this molecule in inhibition of CTL cytotoxicity. Methods: Generation of human CD8+ CTL: PBMC freshly obtained from healthy volunteers were separated by centrifugation onto a cushion of Histopaque-1077. The fresh lymphocytes were co-cultured for 14 days with irradiated swine endothelial cells (SEC) and human IL-2 (100 U/ml). We employed cultured lymphocytes as effector cells in cytotoxicity assay. Cytotoxicity assay and blockade of lymphocytes killing in the cytotoxicity assay: The Cytotoxicity of human CTL incubated under various effector-to-target ratios was assessed by Terasaki plates. Parental SEC and SEC transfectants were plated as target cells in those plates. Furthermore, the blocking experiments were performed using Concanamycin A to inhibit perforin-dependent lysis and an anti-human FasL mAb to block Fas/FasL pathway. Gene: cDNAs of human decoy Fas which does not contain the death domain in its cytoplasmic tail and FasL carrying the deletion at the cleavage site with metalloproteinase, were subcloned into pEF-BOS expression vector (promoter of human elongation factor 1α), respectively. Expression of plasmids: These plasmids were transfected into SEC by lipofection, respectively. The expression of these molecules on SEC transfectants were assessed with FACS analysis using PE-conjugated mAbs. Results: Mechanism of human CTL cytotoxicity: The human CTL killing was dramatically inhibited by anti-FasL mAb, whereas the killing with them was partially suppressed by Concanamycin A. These results are averages of 3∼6 experiments in the table.FigureConclusions: The Fas/FasL pathway is a main contributor to human CTL killing against xenograft cells. SEC transfectants with either human decoy Fas antigen or membrane-bound FasL gene were highly resistant to human CTL-mediated lysis. Our data demonstrate that these novel molecules may represent a step forward toward preventing cellular xenograft rejection and that the combinatorial expression of both molecules may be more beneficial to protect xenograft 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.

Soluble HLA class I induces NK cell apoptosis upon the engagement of killer-activating HLA class I receptors through FasL-Fas interaction

The engagement of the activating isoforms of C-type lectin inhibitory receptor (CLIR) or killer Ig-like receptor (KIR) by their natural ligands, represented by soluble HLA-I (sHLA-I) molecules, induced programmed cell death of natural killer (NK) cells. Indeed, NK cell apoptosis elicited by either putative HLA-E and HLA-F (sHLA-I non-A, -B, -C, and -G) or sHLA-I-Cw4 or -Cw3 from untransfected or -Cw4 or -Cw3 alleles transfected HLA-A(-), B(-), C(-), G(-), E(+), F(+) 721.221 lymphoblastoid cell line, respectively, was blocked by covering the corresponding activating receptor with either anti-CLIR- or anti-KIR-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). After sHLA-I-activating receptor interaction, NK cells produced and released Fas ligand (FasL), which in turn led to NK cell apoptosis by interacting with Fas at the NK cell surface. Blocking anti-Fas mAb, or anti-FasL mAb, inhibited sHLA-I-mediated apoptosis via activating receptor in NK cell clones. This apoptosis was inhibited by NK cell treatment with cyclosporin A, whereas this drug had no effect on activating receptor-mediated activation of cytolysis. Conversely, concanamycin A, an inhibitor of vacuolar type H(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (H(+)-ATPase) of granules, inhibited activating receptor-induced NK cell cytolysis, suggesting that activating receptor-mediated apoptosis and cytolysis can use different intracellular pathways. Furthermore, a large amount of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was detectable in culture supernatant of activating receptor(+) NK cells incubated with the appropriate sHLA-I ligand. Again, cyclosporin A, but not concanamycin A, strongly reduced activating receptor-mediated IFN-gamma production. This suggests that activating receptor-induced apoptosis of NK cells could play a role in eliminating potentially harmful NK cell clones and, at the same time, it leads to production of IFN-gamma, an antiviral cytokine able to amplify immune responses.

T cell receptor ligation triggers novel nonapoptotic cell death pathways that are Fas-independent or Fas-dependent.

Short-term culture of activated T cells with IL-2 renders them highly susceptible to apoptotic death triggered by TCR cross-linking. Activation-induced apoptosis is contingent upon caspase activation and this is mediated primarily by Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interactions that, in turn, are optimized by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-regulated signals. Although T cells from mice bearing mutations in Fas (lpr) or FasL (gld) are more resistant to activation-induced cell death (AICD) than normal T cells, a significant proportion of CD8(+) T cells and to a lesser extent CD4(+) T cells from mutant mice die after TCR religation. Little is known about this Fas-independent death process. In this study, we demonstrate that AICD in lpr and gld CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells occurs predominantly by a novel mechanism that is TNF-alpha-, caspase-, and p38 MAPK-independent and has morphologic features more consistent with oncosis/primary necrosis than apoptosis. A related Fas- and caspase-independent, nonapoptotic death process is revealed in wild-type (WT) CD8(+) T cell blasts following TCR ligation and treatment with caspase inhibitors, the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, or neutralizing anti-FasL mAb. In parallel studies with WT CD4(+) T cells, two minor pathways leading to nonapoptotic, caspase-independent AICD were identified, one contingent upon Fas ligation and p38 MAPK activation and the other Fas- and p38 MAPK-independent. These data indicate that TCR ligation can activate nonapoptotic death programs in WT CD8(+) and CD8(+) T blasts that normally are masked by Fas-mediated caspase activation. Selective use of potentially proinflammatory oncotic death programs by activated lpr and gld T cells may be an etiologic factor in autosensitization.

Mechanisms of nonspecific cytotoxic cell regulation of apoptosis: cytokine-like activity of Fas ligand

The role of FasL/FasR pathways of immunoregulation of programmed cell death in teleost cytotoxic innate immunity has not been previously examined. In the present study, constitutive cytosolic soluble FasL (sFasL) was detected in anterior kidney (AK), peripheral blood (PBL) and liver NCC obtained from tilapia. Ligation of NCC by tumour cells caused the release of sFasL that was associated with lysis of HL-60 targets in 14h killing assays. Evidence that sFasL mediated this activity was that anti-(human) FasL inhibited tilapia and catfish (cf.) NCC lysis of FasR+ HL-60 tumour cells. Inhibition was concentration dependent. Lysis of IM-9 targets (12% positive for FasR) by (cf.) anterior kidney and PBL NCC was only partially inhibited by anti-FasL mab. Activated NCC from both species were negative for the expression of membrane FasL and FasR. These data confirmed that NCC lyse sensitive tumour cells by multiple effector pathways. Pretreatment of (FasR+) HL-60 cells with anti-FasR mab completely inhibited cf. cytotoxicity at low (100:1) E:T ratios. Anti-FasR mab did not inhibit the lysis of IM-9 targets by cf. NCC. This study demonstrated that for catfish and tilapia, initial target cell conjugate formation was required; however, the terminal killing mechanism depended on at least two different pathways of cytotoxicity. One pathway depended on the release of preformed soluble FasL by activated NCC in the presence of FasR positive target cells. A second pathway has yet to be determined.

Trypanosoma cruzi infection selectively renders parasite-specific IgG+ B lymphocytes susceptible to Fas/Fas ligand-mediated fratricide.

The control of B cell expansion has been thought to be solely regulated by T lymphocytes. We show in this study that Trypanosoma cruzi infection induces up-regulation of both Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) molecules on B cells and renders them susceptible to B cell-B cell killing (referred to as fratricide throughout this paper) mediated via Fas/FasL. Moreover, by in vivo administration of anti-FasL blocking mAb we demonstrate that Fas-mediated B cell apoptosis is an ongoing process during this parasitic infection. We also provide evidence that B cells that have switched to IgG isotype are the preferential targets of B cell fratricide. More strikingly, this death pathway selectively affects IgG(+) B cells reactive to parasite but not self Ags. Parasite-specific but not self-reactive B cells triggered during this response are rescued after either in vitro or in vivo FasL blockade. Fratricide among parasite-specific IgG(+) B lymphocytes could impair the immune control of T. cruzi and possibly other chronic protozoan parasites. Our results raise the possibility that the blockade of Fas/FasL interaction in the B cell compartment of T. cruzi-infected mice may provide a means for enhancing antiparasitic humoral immune response without affecting host tolerance.

Role of Fas/FasL pathway in the activation of infiltrating cells in murine acute myocarditis caused by Coxsackievirus B3

ObjectivesThis study was designed to investigate the roles of Fas/FasL pathway in myocardial damage in murine acute myocarditis caused by Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3). BackgroundCardiac myocyte apoptosis rarely occurs in murine acute myocarditis caused by CVB3. Fas/FasL belong to the tumor necrosis factor receptor/ligand superfamily of costimulatory molecules and are known to play a critical role in the induction of apoptosis, as well as in the cytotoxicty mediated by T-cells and natural killer cells. MethodsWe first analyzed the expression of Fas on cardiac myoctyes in vivo and in vitro. Second, we examined the development of myocardial damage, in C3H/He mice treated with an anti-FasL monoclonal antibody (mAb), and in C3H/He-lpr/lpr mice and C3H/He-gld/gld mice infected with CVB3. Third, to investigate the effects of anti-FasL mAb treatment on the activation of the infiltrating cells, we examined the expression of interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2 as activation markers in the heart of mice by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction. ResultsFas was markedly induced on cardiac myocytes with acute myocarditis. Myocardial inflammation was decreased in mice treated with anti-Fas L mAb, C3H/He-lpr/lpr mice and C3H/He-gld/gld mice. Anti-FasL mAb-treatment also decreased the expression of IFN-gamma, IL-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase and CVB3 genomes in myocardial tissue. ConclusionsOur findings strongly suggested that the Fas/FasL pathway played a critical role in the development of massive myocardial necrosis through activation of infiltrating cells, and raise the possibility of immunotherapy by blocking the Fas/FasL pathway to prevent myocardial damage and improve the prognosis of patients with viral myocarditis.

Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis of thyrocytes in Graves' disease.

We examined in the present study the possible involvement of Fas and its ligand (FasL) in the process of Graves' disease. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that few normal thyrocytes expressed Fas but many thyrocytes in Graves' disease expressed this molecule. The percentage of FasL-positive thyrocytes in Graves' thyroids was, however, less than in normal thyroids. Several apoptotic thyrocytes and infiltrating mononuclear cells (MNCs) were detected scattered throughout Graves' thyroid tissues and abundant proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive thyrocytes were present. Apoptotic cells, as well as PCNA-positive cells, were scarcely detectable in normal thyroid glands, however. In vitro treatment of thyrocytes by IL-1beta a cytokine found to be expressed in Graves' thyroid glands, increased Fas but reduced FasL expression. IL-1beta-stimulated thyrocytes became sensitive to apoptosis by anti-Fas IgM monoclonal antibody (mAb). Activated T cells, which strongly expressed FasL, showed cytotoxic activity toward IL-1beta-stimulated thyrocytes but not toward unstimulated thyrocytes. This cytotoxic activity involved the Fas/FasL pathway. Importantly, unstimulated thyrocytes could kill activated, but not resting, T cells. IL-1beta-stimulated thyrocytes, with down-regulated FasL expression, could not efficiently kill activated T cells. The cytotoxic activity of unstimulated thyrocytes toward activated T cells was inhibited by anti-FasL mAb. Interestingly, unstimulated thyrocytes induced apoptosis in IL-1beta-stimulated thyrocytes but not in unstimulated thyrocytes. These interactions were also blocked by anti-FasL mAb. Our results suggest that the apoptotic cell death of both thyrocytes and infiltrating MNCs found in Graves' thyroid glands is regulated by IL-1beta through Fas/FasL interactions.

Blocking CTL-Based Cytotoxic Pathways Reduces Apoptosis of Transplanted Hepatocytes

Background. A major obstacle in allogenic hepatocyte transplantation is increased apoptosis of grafted cells due to CTL-based cytotoxicity. However, whether blockade of Fas- and granzyme-mediated pathways of CTL-based cytotoxicity may provide immune protection to transplanted hepatocytes is poorly defined. Our study aimed to reduce apoptosis of allogenic transplanted hepatocytes by inhibiting granzyme B (GraB) activity and blocking Fas-FasL interaction.Materials and methods. Hepatocyte transplantation was performed by inoculating isolated liver cells from ACI rats (allogenic) or Lewis rats (syngenic) into the spleens of Lewis rats. Recipients were treated with FLIM58, an inhibitory anti-FasL mAb, and GraB inhibitor I alone or a combination of the two drugs for 5 days after transplantation, and were sacrificed at Day 7. Apoptosis of transplanted hepatocytes was detected in situ by TUNEL assay and M30 immunostaining. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) activity in recipient spleens was examined to evaluate survival of transplanted cells. Recipient spleens were assayed for FasL level with Western blotting and for GraB activity by hydrolysis of GraB substrate.Results. FLIM58 or GraB inhibitor I significantly reduced the percentage of TUNEL-positive and M30-positive hepatocytes and markedly increased GLDH levels in allogenic, but not syngenic, recipient spleens. These effects were more pronounced when the two drugs were used in combination (P < 0.05). Additionally, elevation of FasL and GraB levels in allogenic recipient spleens can be significantly reduced by FLIM58 and GraB inhibitor I, respectively.Conclusions. Inhibition of GraB activity and blockade of Fas-FasL interaction reduce the apoptosis of allogenic transplanted hepatocytes, and thus improve their survival.

Antigen-specific T(h)1 cells as direct effectors of Propionibacterium acnes-primed lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic injury.

T(h)1 cells are cytotoxic effector cells that utilize Fas ligand (FasL) and tumor necrosis factor. The physiological roles of cytotoxic T(h)1 cells are considered to be immunoregulation by eliminating autoreactive lymphocytes or hyper-activated foreign antigen-specific lymphocytes. Their pathological roles, however, remain to be clarified. To investigate whether T(h)1 cells can destroy organs, we generated a Propionibacterium acnes-specific T(h)1 clone from C57BL/6 mice and tested whether the clone could serve as an effector in a P. acnes-primed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hepatic injury system, one of the septic shock models. B6SMN:C3H-FasL(gld) (B6-gld) mice, which were deficient in functional FasL, were resistant to P. acnes/LPS-induced hepatic shock. The T(h)1 clone rendered B6-gld mice sensitive to the hepatic shock after the i.v. transfer. The hepatic injury in the clone-transferred B6-gld mice, which was evaluated by both biochemical and histological examination, was inhibited by an anti-FasL mAb that we developed. These results suggested that bacterial antigen-specific T(h)1 cells like this clone can participate in organ destruction in vivo as one of the cytotoxic effectors and play a critical role in endotoxin-induced hepatic injury.

CD95 (Fas) ligand-expressing vesicles display antibody-mediated, FcR-dependent enhancement of cytotoxicity.

Bioactive Fas ligand (FasL)-expressing vesicles were generated (vesicle preparation, VP) from two cell lines overexpressing FasL. The effect of NOK-1 anti-FasL mAb (mouse IgG1) on the cytotoxicity of FasL VP against various targets was determined. At high concentrations (1-10 microg/ml), NOK-1 inhibited the cytotoxicity. By contrast, NOK-1 in the dose range of 1-100 ng/ml significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against the FcR(+) LB27.4, M59, and LF(+) targets, but not the FcR(-) Jurkat and K31H28 hybridoma T cell targets. The ability to enhance FasL VP-mediated cytotoxicity could be blocked by the FcR-specific mAb 2.4G2. Enhancement was also observed with FcR(+) A20 B lymphoma but not with the FcR(-) A20 variant. Enhancement of FasL VP cytotoxicity was observed with five IgG anti-FasL mAbs, but not with an IgM anti-FasL mAb. Inhibition was observed with high doses of all mAb except the IgG anti-FasL mAb G247-4, which is specific to a segment outside the FasL binding site. Interestingly, under identical conditions but in the presence of 2.4G2, G247-4 inhibited the cytotoxicity of FasL VP. In addition, G247-4 inhibited the FasL VP-mediated killing of FcR(-) Jurkat. The data demonstrate that FasL-expressing bioactive vesicles display a property heretofore unknown in bioactive agents that express FasL-mediated cytotoxicity. The mechanism of the Ab-mediated, FcR-dependent enhancement of cytotoxicity of bioactive vesicles and its physiological significance are discussed.

T-cell co-signalling molecules in graft-versus-host disease.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo SCT) is now frequently performed for the treatment of haematological malignancies and aplastic anaemia. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is still the major complication after allo SCT, producing immune deficiency, infection, organ damage and, occasionally, patient death. The antigen-specific signal mediated by the T-cell receptor (TCR) is essential for activation of T-cells; however, additional co-stimulatory signals are required for complete T-cell activation. Therefore, blocking strategies of co-stimulatory signals have been evaluated as targets of therapeutic intervention for GVHD after allo SCT. In a mouse bone-marrow transplantation (BMT) model, the administration of CTLA4-Ig, which blocks the interaction of CD28 on T-cells and B7 molecules on antigen-presenting cells (APCs), can prolong survival of allo BMT recipients, although this effect was not complete. In addition, the anti-CD40L (CD154) monoclonal antibody (mAb), which can interfere with the interaction of CD154 on T-cells and CD40 on APCs, can induce long-term graft survival in the murine model. Combined administration of CTLA4-Ig and anti-CD40L mAb can prevent allograft rejection in primates. Therefore, it seems the most powerful method to prevent the alloimmune response in vivo. The Fas/Fas ligand pathway is also involved in pathogenesis of GVHD. Anti-FasL mAb can reduce the mortality of GVHD and improve intestinal lesions. Recently, it was reported that donor bone marrow treated ex vivo using CTLA4-Ig reconstituted haematopoiesis in vivo with a relatively low risk of GVHD in human allo BMT. Therefore, selective blocking strategies for T-cell co-signalling might be useful for the prevention of GVHD in human allo SCT.

Bioactivities of Fas ligand-expressing retroviral particles.

Culture supernatants from retroviral packaging cells carrying the human Fas ligand (FasL) gene killed both human (Jurkat) and mouse (LB27.4) targets within 5 h of incubation. Cytotoxicity was found both in a fraction >/=500 kDa and a fraction between 50 and 500 kDa. Following ultracentrifugation, the activity in the >/=500-kDa fraction was concentrated in the pellet (FasL vector preparation (VP)), which was also infective when added to NIH-3T3 cells. Both Polybrene and poly-l -lysine significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of FasL VP but not anti-Fas mAb, soluble FasL (sFasL), and cell-associated FasL. In the presence of Polybrene, FasL VP killed targets that are resistant to anti-Fas mAb and sFasL. The infectivity but not FasL cytotoxicity of FasL VP was sensitive to irradiation and heat shock. By contrast, cytotoxicity of FasL VP could be enhanced or inhibited depending on the doses of anti-FasL mAb. Interestingly, the infectivity of FasL VP was specifically enhanced by anti-FasL mAb, suggesting that a nonviral gene product could be used to regulate the behavior of the retroviral vector. Thus, in addition to expressing potent FasL cytotoxicity, the FasL VP exhibits unique properties heretofore not attributed to anti-Fas mAb, sFasL, and cell-associated FasL. Our study raises the possibility of using the retroviral gene-packaging technology to make powerful, versatile, and regulatable bioactive vesicles expressing a predetermined function of the protein encoded by the target gene.