Fas-mediated apoptosis of mouse embryo stem cells: its role during embryonic development.
OBJECTIVE
Fas antigen (APO-1/CD95) can regulate the activity of various cells during adulthood. This study aimed at determining whether Fas may also be involved in the regulation of very early events such as the embryo preimplantation stage.


METHODS
We used mouse embryo stem (ES) cell line as a model for testing the effect of Fas crosslinking upon anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (MoAb) treatment. In addition, this treatment was also applied to in-vitro mouse-embryo culture.


RESULTS
Flow-cytometry analysis of cultured ES cells demonstrated an increase in Fas expression. unchanged in the presence of mouse interleukin-2, while greatly upregulated in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). As determined by various means, ES cells may undergo a Fas-mediated apoptosis, slightly but significantly intensified by the addition of LPS to cell cultures. We also report that anti-Fas MoAb directly inhibited two-cell stage mouse-embryo (preimplantation) development in in-vitro culture conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a novel mechanism controlling the regulation of physiological cell turnover as well as blastocyst implantation in early embryo development.
Zou
G M
GM
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France.
Reznikoff-Etiévant
M F
MF
Léon
A
A
Vergé
V
V
Hirsch
F
F
Milliez
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D007371:Interferon-gamma