title: Fas ligand in human serum.
abstract: The Fas ligand (FasL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor family, induces apoptosis in Fas-bearing cells. The membrane-bound human FasL was found to be converted to a soluble form (sFasL) by the action of a matrix metalloproteinase-like enzyme. Two neutralizing monoclonal anti-human FasL antibodies were identified, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for sFasL in human sera was established. Sera from healthy persons did not contain a detectable level of sFasL, whereas those from patients with large granular lymphocytic (LGL) leukemia and natural killer (NK) cell lymphoma did. These malignant cells constitutively expressed FasL, whereas peripheral NK cells from healthy persons expressed FasL only on activation. These results suggested that the systemic tissue damage seen in most patients with LGL leukemia and NK-type lymphoma is due to sFasL produced by these malignant cells. Neutralizing anti-FasL antibodies or matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors may be of use in modulating such tissue damage.
authors.affiliation: Osaka Bioscience Institute, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haze
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Motoyoshi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mizuki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tagawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatake
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012995:Solubility; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017931:DNA Primers; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases