Current understanding on the immunological functions of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively induces apoptosis in various tumor cells and virus-infected cells, but rarely in normal cells. The killing specificity of TRAIL has brought great interests to develop a novel apoptosis-based anti-tumor agent for clinical application. TRAIL is expressed in many normal tissues and cells, such as liver, brain, kidney, heart, colon, lung, and testis. However, immunological and physiological functions of TRAIL in vivo have not been understood well. In the present paper we summarized the progress in the research on immunological functions of TRAIL.
Wei
Wei
W
National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China. vivina-wei@163.com
Liu
Yanxin
Y
Zheng
Dexian
D
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance; D008024:Ligands; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D008024:Ligands; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand