title: The Fas death factor.
abstract: Fas ligand (FasL), a cell surface molecule belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family, binds to its receptor Fas, thus inducing apoptosis of Fas-bearing cells. Various cells express Fas, whereas FasL is expressed predominantly in activated T cells. In the immune system, Fas and FasL are involved in down-regulation of immune reactions as well as in T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Malfunction of the Fas system causes lymphoproliferative disorders and accelerates autoimmune diseases, whereas its exacerbation may cause tissue destruction.
authors.affiliation: Osaka Bioscience Institute, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Golstein
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D015536:Down-Regulation; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019014:fas Receptor
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor