title: Impact of FASL-induced apoptosis in the elimination of tumor cells by NK cells.
abstract: The cytotoxic effector functions of NK cells are important for enabling the immune system to cope efficiently with infection and malignancy. Two major mechanisms of cytotoxicity are perforin/granzyme- and death receptor-mediated (e.g., FASL- or TRAIL-mediated) induction of cell death. Many studies, including studies in perforin-deficient animals, have led to the conclusion that perforin/granzyme-mediated induction of cell death is a principal pathway used by NK cells to eliminate virus-infected or transformed cells. However, death receptor-mediated apoptosis may also contribute to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, as revealed by more recent reports. In the present paper, we have reviewed current data on death receptor-mediated tumor cell apoptosis by NK cells with a particular emphasis on the role of NK cell FASL in the RMA/RMA-S tumor model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. Valentina.screpanti@medhs.ki.se
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Screpanti
authors.forename: Robert P A
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Wallin
authors.forename: Alf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grandien
authors.forename: Hans-Gustaf
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Ljunggren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D054353:Perforin; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases