title: Fas ligand deficiency in HIV disease.
abstract: Apoptosis is postulated to be involved as an anti-viral immune mechanism by killing infected cells before viral replication has occurred. The Fas-Fas ligand interaction is a powerful regulator of T cell apoptosis and could potentially act as a potent anti-viral immune mechanism against T cell tropic virus such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We investigated the status of Fas ligand in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from persons infected with HIV. We found that monocytes in freshly isolated PBMCs from healthy individuals possess cell surface Fas ligand. In contrast, monocytes in freshly isolated PBMCs from HIV-infected patients had no detectable Fas ligand on the cell surface. Consistent with these findings of surface expression, Fas ligand activity was deficient in the cells from HIV-infected persons. The effect of replacing Fas ligand activity on HIV production by patients' cells was assessed in an in vitro assay. The addition of a functional anti-Fas antibody to PBMCs from HIV-infected individuals inhibited viral production by greater than 90% without affecting lymphocytic function. These findings suggest the possibility of a new therapeutic modality for the treatment of HIV-infected individuals based on the reconstitution of Fas ligand activity.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Biomedical Research Building, 2109 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH 44106-4943, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sieg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014779:Virus Replication; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D017931:DNA Primers; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019014:fas Receptor