title: Calorie restriction increases Fas/Fas-ligand expression and apoptosis in murine splenic lymphocytes.
abstract: One-month-old male ICR mice were fed a nutritionally adequate, semipurified diet, either ad libitum (AL) or calorie restricted (CR) (40% less food) for 6 months and were killed to obtain spleens. Flow cytometric analysis revealed increased proportions of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CR-fed mice compared to AL-fed mice. The T cell subsets of CR-fed mice were also found to have higher levels of plasma membrane Fas receptor expression. Similarly, Fas-ligand (Fas-L) expression was higher in anti-CD3-stimulated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. CR-fed mice also had increased numbers of annexin V-positive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in stimulated splenic lymphocytes suggesting an increased potential for apoptosis. Fas and Fas-L gene expression in splenic lymphocytes, which correlated closely with the observed increased rate of apoptosis, was significantly increased in CR-fed mice compared to AL-fed mice. In conclusion, these results indicate that CR increases the expression of Fas and Fas-L which may contribute to the known beneficial effects of CR such as prolongation of life span by activating chronic physiologically mediated apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78229-3900, USA.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Reddy Avula
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muthukumar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000276:immunology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008024:Ligands; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor