Melanoma cell expression of Fas(Apo-1/CD95) ligand: implications for tumor immune escape.
Malignant melanoma accounts for most of the increasing mortality from skin cancer. Melanoma cells were found to express Fas (also called Apo-1 or CD95) ligand (FasL). In metastatic lesions, Fas-expressing T cell infiltrates were proximal to FasL+ tumor cells. In vitro, apoptosis of Fas-sensitive target cells occurred upon incubation with melanoma tumor cells; and in vivo, injection of FasL+ mouse melanoma cells in mice led to rapid tumor formation. In contrast, tumorigenesis was delayed in Fas-deficient lpr mutant mice in which immune effector cells cannot be killed by FasL. Thus, FasL may contribute to the immune privilege of tumors.
Hahne
M
M
Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. jurg.tschopp@ib.unil.ch
Rimoldi
D
D
Schröter
M
M
Romero
P
P
Schreier
M
M
French
L E
LE
Schneider
P
P
Bornand
T
T
Fontana
A
A
Lienard
D
D
Cerottini
J
J
Tschopp
J
J
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D019139:Tumor Escape; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor