title: Regulation of the Fas death pathway by FLICE-inhibitory protein in primary human B cells.
abstract: The Fas/Fas ligand (L) system plays an important role in the maintenance of peripheral B cell tolerance and the prevention of misguided T cell help. CD40-derived signals are required to induce Fas expression on virgin B cells and to promote their susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis. In the current study, we have analyzed the early biochemical events occurring upon Fas ligation in CD40L-activated primary human tonsillar B cells with respect to Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD), caspase-8/FADD-like IL-1beta-converting enzyme (FLICE), and c-FLICE inhibitory protein (FLIP). We report here that Fas-induced apoptosis in B cells does not require integrity of the mitochondrial Apaf-1 pathway and that caspase-8 is activated by association with the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), i.e., upstream of the mitochondria. We show that both FADD and the zymogen form of caspase-8 are constitutively expressed at high levels in virgin B cells, whereas c-FLIP expression is marginal. In contrast, c-FLIP, but neither FADD nor procaspase-8, is strongly up-regulated upon ligation of CD40 or the B cell receptor on virgin B cells. Finally, we have found that c-FLIP is also recruited and cleaved at the level of the DISC in CD40L-activated virgin B cells. We propose that c-FLIP expression delays the onset of apoptosis in Fas-sensitive B cells. The transient protection afforded by c-FLIP could offer an ultimate safeguard mechanism against inappropriate cell death or allow recruitment of phagocytes to ensure efficient removal of apoptotic cells.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unité 404, "Immunité et Vaccination," Lyon, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hennino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casamayor-Pallejà
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Krammer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Defrance
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000276:immunology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000276:immunology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D019013:CD40 Antigens; C506386:CFLAR protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D023201:CD40 Ligand; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases