title: The Fas/Fas ligand system and cancer: immune privilege and apoptosis.
abstract: The Fas/FasL system has been suggested to play an important role in the establishment of immune privilege status for tumors by inducing Fas-mediated apoptosis in tumor-specific lymphocytes. However, the role of cell-surface expressed FasL in tumor cell protection has recently become controversial. Our laboratory has focused on the study of the role of the Fas/FasL system in the normal tissue remodeling of the female reproductive tract and in immune-privileged organs. Our studies have demonstrated a connection between sex hormones and the regulation of the Fas/FasL pathway in immune and reproductive cells. More recently, we have investigated the resistance of tumor cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. We have also characterized a new form of FasL, different from the classical membranal form, which is secreted by ovarian cancer cells. In this review we describe the main techniques used in these studies.
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002470:Cell Survival; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor