title: Apoptosis in SLE--too little or too much?
abstract: Cells of the immune system are, most likely, programmed to die unless recruited into an immune response. An active cell death program may also be induced by a variety of soluble and surface signals, many of which have only recently been recognized. The importance of these pathways in maintaining tolerance is highlighted by the development of lupus-like diseases in three different mouse strains that have spontaneous mutations in the Fas/APO-1 receptor or its ligand. The known function of Fas/APO-1 in signalling apoptosis explains the persistence of self reactive cells in lpr mice although it is unclear, at present, whether Fas defects effect both central and peripheral tolerance. Whereas Fas/APO-1 receptor expression appears to be normal in humans with SLE, other defects in the Fas/APO-1 pathway or other key molecules in the cell death survival require further study.
authors.affiliation: Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) in SLE, Hospital for Special Surgery, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Elkon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019014:fas Receptor
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D008024:Ligands; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019014:fas Receptor