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.
Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. jurg.tschopp@ib.unil.ch
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Hahne
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Rimoldi
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Schröter
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Romero
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Schreier
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French
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Schneider
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Bornand
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Fontana
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Lienard
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Cerottini
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Tschopp
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