Molecular mechanisms of activated T cell death in vivo.
The culmination of the immune response involves the death of the majority of the activated antigen-specific T lymphocytes. The death of these cells is important to prevent autoimmunity, to decrease the metabolic cost to the organism and to ensure T cell homeostasis. This review will focus on the mechanisms that, in animals, control the death of these activated cells. At least two separate types of cell death can occur (activation-induced cell death and activated T cell autonomous death) via death receptors such as Fas or the Bcl-2 related protein Bim, respectively. Finally, adjuvants that enable T cell survival may operate via NF-kappaB and Bcl-3 rather than cytokines.
Hildeman
David A
DA
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA. hildemand@njc.org
Zhu
Yanan
Y
Mitchell
Thomas C
TC
Kappler
John
J
Marrack
Philippa
P
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
D016328:NF-kappa B; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2