Cell Surface Fas Expression Research Articles

Inhibiting Lysine Demethylase 1A Improves L1CAM-Specific CAR T Cell Therapy by Unleashing Antigen-Independent Killing via the FAS-FASL Axis.

Simple SummarySolid tumor cells can lose or heterogeneously express antigens to become resistant to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. Here, we explore whether epigenetic manipulation to unleash antigen-independent killing mechanisms can overcome this hurdle. KDM1A is overexpressed in many cancers and removes lysine methylation on histones that keeps the DNA firmly packed to selectively activate or repress gene activity, depending on the specific lysine target. KDM1A also regulates the expression of nonhistone proteins. We inhibited KDM1A in the childhood tumor, neuroblastoma, to increase FAS expression on tumor cells. The FAS receptor can be triggered to induce cell death when bound by the FAS ligand on CAR and other activated T cells present in the tumor environment, even if the tumor cells lack the target antigen. FAS upregulation via KDM1A inhibition sensitized neuroblastoma cells to FAS-FASL-mediated killing and augmented CAR T cell therapy against antigen-poor or even antigen-negative neuroblastoma. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has emerged as a promising treatment strategy, however, therapeutic success against solid tumors such as neuroblastoma remains modest. Recurrence of antigen-poor tumor variants often ultimately results in treatment failure. Using antigen-independent killing mechanisms such as the FAS receptor (FAS)-FAS ligand (FASL) axis through epigenetic manipulation may be a way to counteract the escape achieved by antigen downregulation. Analysis of public RNA-sequencing data from primary neuroblastomas revealed that a particular epigenetic modifier, the histone lysine demethylase 1A (KDM1A), correlated negatively with FAS expression. KDM1A is known to interact with TP53 to repress TP53-mediated transcriptional activation of genes, including FAS. We showed that pharmacologically blocking KDM1A activity in neuroblastoma cells with the small molecule inhibitor, SP-2509, increased FAS cell-surface expression in a strictly TP53-dependent manner. FAS upregulation sensitized neuroblastoma cells to FAS-FASL-dependent killing and augmented L1CAM-directed CAR T cell therapy against antigen-poor or even antigen-negative tumor cells in vitro. The improved therapeutic response was abrogated when the FAS-FASL interaction was abolished with an antagonistic FAS antibody. Our results show that KDM1A inhibition unleashes an antigen-independent killing mechanism via the FAS-FASL axis to make tumor cell variants that partially or totally suppress antigen expression susceptible to CAR T cell therapy.

Single Nucleotide Variant in FAS Associates With Organ Failure and Soluble Fas Cell Surface Death Receptor in Critical Illness.

Multiple organ failure in critically ill patients is associated with poor prognosis, but biomarkers contributory to pathogenesis are unknown. Previous studies support a role for Fas cell surface death receptor (Fas)-mediated apoptosis in organ dysfunction. Our objectives were to test for associations between soluble Fas and multiple organ failure, identify protein quantitative trait loci, and determine associations between genetic variants and multiple organ failure. Retrospective observational cohort study. Four academic ICUs at U.S. hospitals. Genetic analyses were completed in a discovery (n = 1,589) and validation set (n = 863). Fas gene expression and flow cytometry studies were completed in outpatient research participants (n = 250). None. In discovery and validation sets of critically ill patients, we tested for associations between enrollment plasma soluble Fas concentrations and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score on day 3. We conducted a genome-wide association study of plasma soluble Fas (discovery n = 1,042) and carried forward a single nucleotide variant in the FAS gene, rs982764, for validation (n = 863). We further tested whether the single nucleotide variant in FAS (rs982764) was associated with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, FAS transcriptional isoforms, and Fas cell surface expression. Higher plasma soluble Fas was associated with higher day 3 Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores in both the discovery (β = 4.07; p < 0.001) and validation (β = 6.96; p < 0.001) sets. A single nucleotide variant in FAS (rs982764G) was associated with lower plasma soluble Fas concentrations and lower day 3 Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score in meta-analysis (-0.21; p = 0.02). Single nucleotide variant rs982764G was also associated with a lower relative expression of the transcript for soluble as opposed to transmembrane Fas and higher cell surface expression of Fas on CD4+ T cells. We found that single nucleotide variant rs982764G was associated with lower plasma soluble Fas concentrations in a discovery and validation population, and single nucleotide variant rs982764G was also associated with lower organ dysfunction on day 3. These findings support further study of the Fas pathway as a potential mediator of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients.

Regulation of fibroblast Fas expression by soluble and mechanical pro-fibrotic stimuli

BackgroundFibroblast apoptosis is a critical component of normal repair and the acquisition of an apoptosis-resistant phenotype contributes to the pathogenesis of fibrotic repair. Fibroblasts from fibrotic lungs of humans and mice demonstrate resistance to apoptosis induced by Fas-ligand and prior studies have shown that susceptibility to apoptosis is enhanced when Fas (CD95) expression is increased in these cells. Moreover, prior work shows that Fas expression in fibrotic lung fibroblasts is reduced by epigenetic silencing of the Fas promoter. However, the mechanisms by which microenvironmental stimuli such as TGF-β1 and substrate stiffness affect fibroblast Fas expression are not well understood.MethodsPrimary normal human lung fibroblasts (IMR-90) were cultured on tissue culture plastic or on polyacrylamide hydrogels with Young’s moduli to recapitulate the compliance of normal (400 Pa) or fibrotic (6400 Pa) lung tissue and treated with or without TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL) in the presence or absence of protein kinase inhibitors and/or inflammatory cytokines. Expression of Fas was assessed by quantitative real time RT-PCR, ELISA and Western blotting. Soluble Fas (sFas) was measured in conditioned media by ELISA. Apoptosis was assessed using the Cell Death Detection Kit and by Western blotting for cleaved PARP.ResultsFas expression and susceptibility to apoptosis was diminished in fibroblasts cultured on 6400 Pa substrates compared to 400 Pa substrates. TGF-β1 reduced Fas mRNA and protein in a time- and dose-dependent manner dependent on focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Surprisingly, TGF-β1 did not significantly alter cell-surface Fas expression, but did stimulate secretion of sFas. Finally, enhanced Fas expression and increased susceptibility to apoptosis was induced by combined treatment with TNF-α/IFN-γ and was not inhibited by TGF-β1.ConclusionsSoluble and matrix-mediated pro-fibrotic stimuli promote fibroblast resistance to apoptosis by decreasing Fas transcription while stimulating soluble Fas secretion. These findings suggest that distinct mechanisms regulating Fas expression in fibroblasts may serve different functions in the complex temporal and spatial evolution of normal and fibrotic wound-repair responses.

Inhibition of Prolyl Hydroxylase Attenuates Fas Ligand-Induced Apoptosis and Lung Injury in Mice.

Alveolar epithelial injury and increased alveolar permeability are hallmarks of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Apoptosis of lung epithelial cells via the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) pathway plays a critical role in alveolar epithelial injury. Activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 by inhibition of prolyl hydroxylase domain proteins (PHDs) is a possible therapeutic approach to attenuate apoptosis and organ injury. Here, we investigated whether treatment with dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG), an inhibitor of PHDs, could attenuate Fas/FasL-dependent apoptosis in lung epithelial cells and lung injury. DMOG increased HIF-1α protein expression in vitro in MLE-12 cells, a murine alveolar epithelial cell line. Treatment of MLE-12 cells with DMOG significantly suppressed cell surface expression of Fas and attenuated FasL-induced caspase-3 activation and apoptotic cell death. Inhibition of the HIF-1 pathway by echinomycin or small interfering RNA transfection abolished these antiapoptotic effects of DMOG. Moreover, intraperitoneal injection of DMOG in mice increased HIF-1α expression and decreased Fas expression in lung tissues. DMOG treatment significantly attenuated caspase-3 activation, apoptotic cell death in lung tissue, and the increase in alveolar permeability in mice instilled intratracheally with FasL. In addition, inflammatory responses and histopathological changes were also significantly attenuated by DMOG treatment. In conclusion, inhibition of PHDs protects lung epithelial cells from Fas/FasL-dependent apoptosis through HIF-1 activation and attenuates lung injury in mice.

Bortezomib Improves Adoptive T-cell Therapy by Sensitizing Cancer Cells to FasL Cytotoxicity.

Cancer immunotherapy shows great promise but many patients fail to show objective responses, including in cancers that can respond well, such as melanoma and renal adenocarcinoma. The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib sensitizes solid tumors to apoptosis in response to TNF-family death ligands. Because T cells provide multiple death ligands at the tumor site, we investigated the effects of bortezomib on T-cell responses in immunotherapy models involving low-avidity antigens. Bortezomib did not affect lymphocyte or tissue-resident CD11c(+)CD8(+) dendritic cell counts in tumor-bearing mice, did not inhibit dendritic cell expression of costimulatory molecules, and did not decrease MHC class I/II-associated antigen presentation to cognate T cells. Rather, bortezomib activated NF-κB p65 in CD8(+) T cells, stabilizing expression of T-cell receptor CD3ζ and IL2 receptor-α, while maintaining IFNγ secretion to improve FasL-mediated tumor lysis. Notably, bortezomib increased tumor cell surface expression of Fas in mice as well as human melanoma tissue from a responsive patient. In renal tumor-bearing immunodeficient Rag2(-/-) mice, bortezomib treatment after adoptive T-cell immunotherapy reduced lung metastases and enhanced host survival. Our findings highlight the potential of proteasome inhibitors to enhance antitumor T-cell function in the context of cancer immunotherapy.

Increased susceptibility of CD4+ T cells from elderly individuals to HIV-1 infection and apoptosis is associated with reduced CD4 and enhanced CXCR4 and FAS surface expression levels.

BackgroundElderly HIV-1 infected individuals progress to AIDS more frequently and rapidly than people becoming infected at a young age. To identify possible reasons for these differences in clinical progression, we performed comprehensive phenotypic analyses of CD4+ T cells from uninfected young and elderly individuals, and examined their susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and programmed death.ResultsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from older people contain an increased percentage of central memory and Th17 CD4+ T cells that are main target cells of HIV-1 and strongly reduced proportions of naïve T cells that are poorly susceptible to HIV-1. Unstimulated T cells from elderly individuals expressed higher levels of activation markers, death receptors, and the viral CXCR4 co-receptor than those from young individuals but responded poorly to stimulation. CD4+ T cells from older individuals were highly susceptible to CXCR4- and CCR5-tropic HIV-1 infection but produced significantly lower quantities of infectious virus than cells from young individuals because they were highly prone to apoptosis and thus presumably had a very short life span. The increased susceptibility of T cells from the elderly to HIV-1 infection correlated directly with CXCR4 and inversely with CD4 expression. The levels of apoptosis correlated with the cell surface expression of FAS but not with the expression of programmed death receptor 1 (PD1) or tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL).ConclusionsIncreased levels of activated and highly susceptible HIV-1 target cells, reduced CD4 and enhanced CXCR4 cell surface expression, together with the high susceptibility to FAS-induced programmed cell death may contribute to the rapid CD4+ T cell depletion and accelerated clinical course of infection in elderly HIV-1-infected individuals.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-015-0213-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Human cytomegalovirus suppresses Fas expression and function

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is known to evade extrinsic pro-apoptotic pathways not only by downregulating cell surface expression of the death receptors TNFR1, TRAIL receptor 1 (TNFRSF10A) and TRAIL receptor 2 (TNFRSF10B), but also by impeding downstream signalling events. Fas (CD95/APO-1/TNFRSF6) also plays a prominent role in apoptotic clearance of virus-infected cells, so its fate in HCMV-infected cells needs to be addressed. Here, we show that cell surface expression of Fas was suppressed in HCMV-infected fibroblasts from 24 h onwards through the late phase of productive infection, and was dependent on de novo virus-encoded gene expression but not virus DNA replication. Significant levels of the fully glycosylated (endoglycosidase-H-resistant) Fas were retained within HCMV-infected cells throughout the infection within intracellular membranous structures. HCMV infection provided cells with a high level of protection against Fas-mediated apoptosis. Downregulation of Fas was observed with HCMV strains AD169, FIX, Merlin and TB40.

Abstract 028: CCN1 Enables Fas Ligand-Induced Apoptosis by Elevating Fas Expression in Primary Cardiomyocytes or by Increasing Cytoplasmic Smac in Cardiomyoblast H9c2 Cells

Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) is implicated in cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, cardiomyocytes in culture are resistant to FasL-induced apoptosis, suggesting that additional factor(s) are required for FasL-induced apoptosis. Matricellular protein CCN1 has been demonstrated to promote cytotoxicity of FasL in human skin fibroblasts. CCN1 is induced in a variety of cardiac pathologies. We assessed the hypothesis that CCN1 may be involved in the regulation of FasL-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. We found that either FasL or CCN1 did not induce cell death in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVM). Interestingly, the combination of FasL+CCN1 generated 2-fold induction of apoptosis (vs. control p&lt;0.001). An integrin-α 6 β 1 -binding defective mutant CCN1, CCN1-DM failed to exert synergy with FasL to induce apoptosis, indicating a critical role of α 6 β 1 . The engagement between CCN1 and α 6 β 1 instigated the elevation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activation of mitogen activated protein kinase p38, and followed by the induction of cell surface display of Fas, thereby sensitizing NRVM to FasL-induced apoptosis. Pretreatment of the p38 inhibitor SB202190 abolished the CCN1-induced cell-surface Fas expression and the apoptosis induced by FasL+CCN1. In addition, we tested the interaction between CCN1 and FasL on the cardiomyoblast H9c2 cells. We found that FasL or CCN1 alone did not cause apoptosis in H9c2, and required the combination of FasL+CCN1 to induced apoptosis (vs. control p&lt;0.001) in H9c2 cells, reminiscent of the observation in NRVM. Mechanistically, CCN1 acted through binding to integrin α 6 β 1 , ROS generation, and p38 activation, however, did not increase the expression of cell surface Fas for its synergy with FasL in H9c2 cells. Instead, CCN1 induced Bax translocation to mitochondria, which in turn led to the release of Smac from mitochondria to cytosol. The cytosolic Smac functions to neutralize XIAP. Smac is critical for CCN1 action, because the knockdown of Smac blunted the apoptotic activities of CCN1. In conclusion, CCN1 may play a detrimental role in a stressed heart to both the differentiated cardiomyocytes and the proliferative cardioblasts through distinct signaling mechanisms.

Estrous cycle-dependent changes of Fas expression in the bovine corpus luteum: influence of keratin 8/18 intermediate filaments and cytokines.

BackgroundFas expression and Fas-induced apoptosis are mechanisms attributed to the selective destruction of cells of the corpus luteum (CL) during luteal regression. In certain cell-types, sensitivity to these death-inducing mechanisms is due to the loss or cleavage of keratin-containing intermediate filaments. Specifically, keratin 8/18 (K8/K18) filaments are hypothesized to influence cell death in part by regulating Fas expression at the cell surface.MethodsHere, Fas expression on bovine luteal cells was quantified by flow cytometry during the early (Day 5, postovulation) and late stages (Days 16–18, postovulation) of CL function, and the relationship between Fas expression, K8/K18 filament expression and cytokine-induced cell death in vitro was evaluated.ResultsBoth total and cell surface expression of Fas on luteal cells was greater for early versus late stage bovine CL (89% vs. 44% of cells for total Fas; 65% vs.18% of cells for cell surface Fas; respectively, P<0.05, n=6-9 CL/stage). A similar increase in the steady-state concentration of mRNA for Fas, as detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, however, was not observed. Transient disruption of K8/K18 filaments in the luteal cells with acrylamide (5 mM), however, had no effect on the surface expression of Fas (P>0.05, n=4 CL/stage), despite evidence these conditions increased Fas expression on HepG2 cells (P<0.05, n= 3 expts). Exposure of the luteal cells to cytokines induced cell death (P<0.05) as expected, but there was no effect of K8/K18 filament disruption by acrylamide (P>0.05) or stage of CL (P>0.05, n= 4 CL/stage) on this outcome.ConclusionIn conclusion, we rejected our null hypothesis that the cell surface expression of Fas does not differ between luteal cells of early and late stage CL. The results also did not support the idea that K8/K18 filaments influence the expression of Fas on the surface of bovine luteal cells. Potential downstream effects of these filaments on death signaling, however, remain a possibility. Importantly, the elevated expression of Fas observed on cells of early stage bovine CL compared to late stage bovine CL raises a provocative question concerning the physiological role(s) of Fas in the corpus luteum, particularly during early luteal development.

Proteomic Pathway Analysis Reveals Inflammation Increases Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Resistance to Apoptosis

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) accumulate in patients and animals with cancer where they mediate systemic immune suppression and obstruct immune-based cancer therapies. We have previously demonstrated that inflammation, which frequently accompanies tumor onset and progression, increases the rate of accumulation and the suppressive potency of MDSC. To determine how inflammation enhances MDSC levels and activity we used mass spectrometry to identify proteins produced by MDSC induced in highly inflammatory settings. Proteomic pathway analysis identified the Fas pathway and caspase network proteins, leading us to hypothesize that inflammation enhances MDSC accumulation by increasing MDSC resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis. The MS findings were validated and extended by biological studies. Using activated caspase 3 and caspase 8 as indicators of apoptosis, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and Western blot analyses demonstrated that inflammation-induced MDSC treated with a Fas agonist contain lower levels of activated caspases, suggesting that inflammation enhances resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis was confirmed by viability studies of MDSC treated with a Fas agonist. These results suggest that an inflammatory environment, which is frequently present in tumor-bearing individuals, protects MDSC against extrinsic-induced apoptosis resulting in MDSC with a longer in vivo half-life, and may explain why MDSC accumulate more rapidly and to higher levels in inflammatory settings.

Aerosol Therapy for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma Lung Metastases: Targeting the Fas/FasL Pathway and Rationale for the Use of Gemcitabine

Lung metastases are the main cause of death in patients with osteosarcoma (OS). Salvage chemotherapy has been largely unsuccessful in improving the long-term survival of these patients. Understanding the mechanisms that play a role in the metastatic process may identify new therapeutic strategies. We have demonstrated that the cell surface Fas expression, the Fas/FasL signaling pathway, and the constitutive expression of FasL in the lung microenvironment play a critical role in the metastatic potential of OS cells. Here we review the status of Fas expression in two sets of OS cells, human SAOS and LM7 and murine K7 and K7M2, which differ in their ability to metastasize to the lungs. We demonstrated that Fas expression inversely correlated with metastatic potential. Evaluation of Fas expression in a set of lung metastases from patients demonstrated low or no Fas expression consistent with our hypothesis that Fas+ osteosarcoma cells cannot form metastases. The absence of FasL in the lung allows Fas+ osteosarcoma cells to form metastases indicating that the microenvironment is an important contributor to the metastatic potential of osteosarcoma cells. Disruption of the signal transduction pathway using Fas-associated death domain dominant negative (FDN) also allowed Fas+ cells to form lung metastases. Aerosol Gemcitabine (GCB) upregulated Fas expression and induced tumor regression in wild-type Balb/c mice but not Fas L-deficient mice. In conclusion, Fas constitutes an early defense mechanism that allows Fas+ tumor cells to undergo apoptosis when in contact with constitutive FasL in the lung. Fas- cells or cells with a corrupted Fas pathway evade this defense mechanism and form lung metastases. The aerosol delivery of chemotherapeutic agents that upregulate Fas expression may benefit patients with established pulmonary metastases.

Increased expression but not sensitivity to Fas/CD95 in glioblastoma cells depleted of mitochondrial DNA

Mitochondria and Fas (CD95) play a role in tumorigenicity and apoptosis. In the present study, the functional relationship of mitochondria to Fas in mediating apoptosis was investigated. Glioblastoma cells (DBTRGO5MG, U87) were depleted of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by treatment with ethidium bromide (Rho(-) cells). Compared to Rho(+) cells, Rho(-) cells showed enhanced expression of Fas at the cell surface. Indeed, when Rho(+) cells were treated with mitochondrial respiratory chain complex inhibitors, Fas cell surface expression was noted to increase in a similar fashion to the depletion of mtDNA in both cell lines. However, when cells were evaluated for sensitivity to apoptosis using Fas-engagement, there was no difference between the Rho(+) and Rho(-) cells in either cell line. By contrast, sensitivity to the cytotoxic agent cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum (cisplatin) was markedly increased in the Rho(-) cells, which expressed higher levels of cell surface Fas. Expression of Fas is increased with the depletion of mtDNA and respiratory complex inhibitors. However, this increase in expression does not necessarily translate to an increase in sensitivity to Fas-engagement, although there is an increase in the sensitivity of depleted cells to cytotoxic agents such as cisplatin.

The MAPK ERK1 Is a Sensor of the Steady-State Splenic Erythropoiesis.

Abstract 73In different culture models, conflicting results have been obtained with respect to the role of the ERK/MAPK pathway and the ERK kinases on erythropoiesis. There is no in vivo experimental data on the role of these kinases in adult erythropoeisis. The existence of two ERK isoforms (ERK1 and ERK2) suggests that they could play specific role, based on their expression, their activation level and/or the ratio between both of them. The ERK1−/− mice were used to study this hypothesis. Increased number of circulating erythrocytes, increased hemoglobin level and hematocrit were found in these mice. The deletion of ERK1 leads to an uncontrolled splenic erythropoiesis while the bone marrow erythropoiesis remains normal. The ERK1−/− mice display splenomegaly characterized by a marked expansion of the red pulp and an increased number in basophilic (Ery.A) and late basophilic (Ery.B) erythroblasts. This impaired erythropoiesis in ERK1−/− mice is cell autonomous as shown by bone marrow transplantation experiments. This splenic erythropoiesis is not due to an overexpression or overactivation of the ERK2 isoform in erythroblasts. It has been shown that Fas-mediated apoptosis of erythroblasts would limit the basal erythropoietic rate. In ERK1−/− mice, Ery.A expansion is associated with a decrease in cell surface expression of both Fas and FasL as compared with wild-type mice. This fall in Fas/FasL expression is correlated with a decrease in Annexin V binding on splenic Ery.A and Ery.B. In addition, cell cycle analysis revealed an increased S-phase in ERK1−/− Ery.A cells compared with wild-type Ery.A. In conclusion, these data demonstrate for the first time the in vivo involvement of the ERK/MAPK pathway in adult splenic erythropoiesis and underlies the specific role of ERK1 in this function. By regulating the cell surface expression of Fas and FasL on splenic erythroblasts, ERK1 acts as a sensor of the basal erythropoietic rate. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Double Negative T-Cells in Children with Aplastic Anemia.

Abstract 3195Poster Board III-132 BackgroundAplastic Anemia (AA) is characterized by an acquired, progressive loss of hematopoietic tissue from the bone marrow thought to result from an immune reaction targeting the stem cell. Lymphocytes expressing CD8 and cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma, are known key factors in the pathophysiology. More recently, the role of other T cell populations has been invoked. We undertook the current retrospective study of 19 consecutive pediatric patients to understand the scope of immune dysregulation seen in children with AA. Patients between the ages of 2 and 17 (10 girls, 9 boys) were referred to our center for evaluation of pancytopenia and underwent a staged comprehensive work up to exclude heritable, infectious, infiltrative, or nutritional etiologies for bone marrow failure. Patients were categorized as severe (n=16), or moderately severe (n=3) according to accepted criteria. Association with hepatitis was noted in one patient. Laboratory studies were performed in a certified clinical laboratory, with reference ranges established according to established protocols. MethodsIn a subset of 9 patients, we performed detailed T- cell immunophenotyping by flow cytometry. As previously described in adult AA patients, 5 of our 9 patients showed decreases in CD56/CD16 co-expressing NK cells (% range: 1.9-7.5% with reference range of 5-15%) whereas CD2 /CD25 co-expressing T-regulatory cells were decreased in 1 of 9 patients and increased 3 of 9 patient without correlation with demographic, or clinical parameters (% range: 0.6-15.3% with reference range of 2-10%). Further detailed analysis of T-cell subsets revealed an increase in CD3/CD4 double-negative T-cells (DNT) in 6 of 9 patients (% range: 2.3-21.7% with reference range of 0-4%). This population is widely considered diagnostic of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), a rare immune mediated disease commonly involving lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, fevers and variable cytopenias. While ALPS often arises from mutations in components of fas apoptotic signaling pathway, none of the nine patients tested showed abnormalities outside the reference range in cell surface expression of fas-, or fas ligand. Finally, clones of cells lacking expression of glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol (GPI) linked proteins have been reported in adult patients with AA, where clone size fluctuates with response to immunotherapy treatment. Among our patients 4 of 9 showed red cell (% clonal size range 0.1-14.6) or white blood cell (% clonal size range 0.2-38) clones. ConclusionIn conclusion, our study in a pediatric AA cohort, while small, confirms key findings of immune dysregulation previously seen in adult patients and for the first time demonstrates the existence of sizable populations of immature double-negative T-cells. Understanding the full spectrum of immune dysfunction is critical in understanding the pathophysiology of AA and may help in guiding immunotherapy. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Camptothecin and Fas receptor agonists synergistically induce medulloblastoma cell death: ROS-dependent mechanisms

Medulloblastoma, a common malignant pediatric brain tumor, is highly resistant to death receptor-mediated apoptosis despite death receptor expression by tumor cells. Developing new strategies to overcome this resistance to death receptor activation could positively impact therapeutic outcomes. We explored the modulation of death receptor-induced medulloblastoma cell death by the topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin (CPT). CPT significantly increased the human medulloblastoma DAOY cell death response to agonistic anti-Fas antibody (CH-11). Cell death after CPT, CH-11, and CPT+CH-11 treatment was 9, 7, and 33%, respectively. Isobologram analysis showed that CH-11 and CPT act synergistically to induce cell death in DAOY cells. A similar pattern of synergism between CPT and CH-11 was found in ONS-76 medulloblastoma cells. Synergistic cell death was found to be predominantly apoptotic involving both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways as evidenced by annexin V staining, cleavage of caspases (3, 8, and 9), Bid and PARP, and cytoprotection by caspase inhibitors. Flow cytometric analyses showed that expression of cell surface Fas or Fas ligand did not change with drug treatment. Western blot analyses showed that the combination of CH-11+CPT induced a significant decrease in XIAP levels. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species, especially O2, were elevated after CPT treatment, and even more so by the CH-11+CPT treatment. The antioxidants glutathione and N-acetyl-cysteine prevented cell death induced by CPT+CH-11. Moreover, the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I inhibitor rotenone potentiated CH-11-induced apoptosis in DAOY cells. Taken together, these findings show that CPT synergizes with Fas activation to induce medulloblastoma apoptosis through a mechanism involving reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress pathways.

Disruption of Cytokeratin 18-Containing Intermediate Filaments in Bovine Luteal Cells: Effects of Acrylamide on Progesterone Secretion, Fas Expression, and FasL-Induced Apoptosis.

One proposed mechanism of cell death during regression of the bovine corpus luteum (CL) is Fas-Fas Ligand (FasL)-induced apoptosis. Fas is a protein receptor found on the surface of luteal cells that binds with FasL and induces cell death through a series of signaling pathways involving caspase enzymes and cytokeratin-containing intermediate filaments. Others have shown in non-ovarian cell types that cytokeratin 18 (CK18)-containing intermediate filaments impair FasL-induced apoptosis, yet these filaments are also directly cleaved by caspases during apoptotic signaling. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether disruption of CK18-containing intermediate filaments in bovine luteal cells increases the cell surface expression of Fas and enhances FasL-induced apoptosis. Early and late stage CL (Days 5 and 16-18 postovulation, respectively) were collected and prepared for primary cell culture following collagenase dissociation. The cultures were exposed initially to culture medium (control) or acrylamide (5mM) for 4 hours to disrupt CK18-containing intermediate filaments. Subsequently, the culture medium in both groups was exchanged and the cells were then exposed to vehicle (control) or a cytokine cocktail containing FasL (50ng/mL) for 24 hours to induce cell death. Immunocytochemical staining revealed that acrylamide effectively disrupted CK18-containing intermediate filaments, resulting in perinuclear aggregation. In contrast, acrylamide had no effect on microtubule organization, progesterone secretion (177 versus 197 ng/5x105cells in control and acrylamide cultures, respectively), or cell viability (19% versus 14% cell death in control and acrylamide treated cultures, respectively) regardless of the stage of CL. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that Fas expression on the surface of cultured luteal cells from early and late stage CL was relatively high (an average of 84% and 61% of luteal cells from early and late stages, respectively). Pretreatment of the cultures with acrylamide, however, did not substantially enhance Fas expression (86% and 63% of luteal cells from early and late stage CL, respectively). Similarly, acrylamide did not augment FasL-induced cell death (an average of 42% versus 40% cell death for control and acrylamide-treated cultures, respectively), regardless of stage of CL. Consistent with the relatively high expression of Fas on cells from early stage CL, the incidence of FasL-induced death was greater in cultures from early stage CL than late stage CL (52% versus 29% cell death, respectively). The results indicate that while acrylamide effectively disrupts CK18-containing intermediate filaments in bovine luteal cells, its transient actions fail to increase Fas expression on the cell surface or to promote FasL-induced apoptosis. This project was supported by National Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2007-35203-18074 from the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. (poster)

Serum DNase I, soluble Fas/FasL levels and cell surface Fas expression in patients with SLE: a possible explanation for the lack of efficacy of hrDNase I treatment

The objectives of the study are to evaluate DNase I serum levels and their correlation with soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and with cell surface Fas expression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), thus contributing to the dysregulated apoptosis typical of the disease. The methods include the following: Serum DNase I levels in patients and in controls were detected using the dot blot method and quantified by densitometry; sFas and sFasL were quantified using an ELISA system. Cell surface Fas expression was evaluated by FACS analysis. Apoptosis was studied by means of internucleosomal DNA degradation using a commercially available kit. The results are as follows: We found a significant difference in DNase I, sFas and sFasL serum levels between patients and controls. Levels of DNase I <7.79 ng ml(-1) are more represented in patients with SLE. Active SLE is strongly associated with high sFas levels and detectable sFasL. DNase I does not correlate with sFas or sFasL, whereas it correlates with T cell surface Fas expression that is higher in patients with active SLE than in healthy controls. Finally, administration of exogenous human recombinant DNase (hrDNase) I to freshly isolated T cells up-regulates cell surface Fas expression and induces increased susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis. In conclusion, our findings confirm that DNase I is low in SLE and suggest that it may play a role in apoptosis in SLE by regulating the surface expression of the cell death molecule Fas. This role may contribute to explain the inefficacy of hrDNase I in SLE, a treatment proposed for the ability of DNase I to remove DNA from auto-antigenic nucleoprotein complexes.

Sodium valproate, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, decreases the secretion of soluble Fas by human osteosarcoma cells and increases their sensitivity to Fas-mediated cell death

Effects of valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, on the susceptibility to cell death induced by agonistic anti-Fas antibody were examined using four human osteosarcoma cell lines. Cell growth, secretion of soluble Fas, expression of cell-surface Fas, and sensitivity to Fas-mediated cell death were examined using cell proliferation assay, flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and agonistic anti-Fas antibody, respectively. VPA suppressed the growth of all the four osteosarcoma cell lines and the secretion of soluble Fas from these cells. VPA showed no or slight suppressive effect on the expression of cell-surface Fas in the four osteosarcoma cell lines, but increased the sensitivity of three of four osteosarcoma cell lines to Fas-mediated cell death. VPA enhances the susceptibility of human osteosarcoma cells to Fas-ligand-induced cell death by decreasing the secretion of soluble Fas and increasing the sensitivity to Fas-mediated cell death.

Genetic aspects of pediatric asthma: potential clinical role

Background: Beta cell apoptosis has been associated with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) onset in newly diagnosed diabetic patients. There is an emerging evidence that T cell-induced apoptosis is a dominant effector mechanism in diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1). Pancreatic β-cells derived from newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics were found to have increased cell surface expression of Fas (CD95) compared to β-cells from healthy subjects. Objective: The study investigates the spontaneous lymphocyte apoptosis via CD95 molecule expression to demonstrate activation induced cell death in children with high risk of DM1 and in type 1 diabetics under insulin therapy. Methods: This study comprised 90 children and adolescents, divided into 3 groups. G(1) comprised 40 type-1 diabetics, their ages ranging from 8.0 to 17.0 years and disease duration between 2.0 and 12.0 years. G(2) (prediabetics) included 30 euglycaemic subjects who were first degree relatives of type 1 diabetics, with normal fasting blood glucose and positive first phase insulin release (FPIR) and/or positive islet cell (ICA) or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies. G(3) comprised 20 healthy, age and sex matched subjects with no clinical or laboratory signs or family history of type-1DM. Patients were subjected to clinical evaluation with special emphasis on signs suggestive of microvascular complications. The study measurements included random blood sugar (RBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ), urinary microalbumin assay and flow cytometric assessment of apoptosis by measuring CD95 percentage expression on CD3 lymphocytes. Results: The percentage of CD95 positive T-lymphocytes was significantly higher in prediabetics than in type-1 diabetics and controls (57.687±6.68, 45.01±6.648,16.75±4.98% respectively; p < 0.001). CD3 positive lymphocytes were significantly lower in prediabetics than type-1 diabetics and controls (52.93±11.64, 66.23±7.04, 63.910±3.4% respectively; p < 0.001). The percentage of CD95 on T-lymphocytes could not be correlated with age, insulin dose and RBS, but HbA1c was positively correlated with both CD3 lymphocytes and CD95% expression. Complicated type-1 diabetics showed higher CD95% expression compared to noncomplicated patients. Conclusion: Peripheral blood lymphocytes with CD95 antigen expression are increased in prediabetics. As CD95 is an important receptor for activation-induced cell death, CD95 mediated apoptosis could play a potential role in the pathogenesis of DM1. Keywords: lymphocyte apoptosis; CD95 system; type 1 DM; prediabetes Egypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2008; 6(2): 57-67

Lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ enhance Fas-mediated cell death in mouse vascular endothelial cells via augmentation of Fas expression

The effect of interferon (IFN)-gamma and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Fas-mediated cell death with anti-Fas agonistic antibody in vascular endothelial cells was examined using a mouse END-D cell line. Anti-Fas agonistic antibody exhibited cytotoxic actions on END-D cells. Fas-mediated cell death was enhanced by LPS or IFN-gamma. The combination of IFN-gamma and LPS significantly enhanced cell death compared to IFN-gamma or LPS alone. IFN-gamma and LPS augmented cell surface expression of Fas, but not tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1. Inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) prevented augmentation of Fas expression in IFN-gamma and LPS-treated END-D cells. IFN-gamma and LPS-treated END-D cells did not become susceptible to TNF-alpha or nitric oxide-mediated cytotoxicity. IFN-gamma and LPS thus appear to augment selectively Fas expression via activation of p38 MAPK and enhance Fas-mediated cell death in END-D cells. Furthermore, administration of IFN-gamma and LPS into mice induced in vivo expression of Fas on vascular endothelial cells and Fas ligand (FasL) on peripheral blood leucocytes. The relationship between enhancement of Fas-mediated cell death by IFN-gamma and LPS and the development of vascular endothelial injury is discussed.