title: Activated human platelets express Fas-L and induce apoptosis in Fas-positive tumor cells.
abstract: In addition to their role in hemostasis and thrombosis, platelets are important modulators of immune and inflammatory responses. We provide evidence here that human platelets contain abundant quantities of Fas-L, and upon activation, they express it on their surface as well as release it into medium. This surface-expressed Fas-L is biologically active and can induce apoptosis in Fas-positive human tumor cells. Therefore, activated platelets may represent an important player in Fas/Fas-L-mediated apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Montreal and Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Knafo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor