Human Fas ligand (L) (CD95L) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha undergo metalloproteinase-mediated proteolytic processing in their extracellular domains resulting in the release of soluble trimeric ligands (soluble [s]FasL, sTNF-alpha) which, in the case of sFasL, is thought to be implicated in diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS. Here we show that the processing of sFasL occurs between Ser1...

In multicellular organisms, cell growth and differentiation is controlled in part by programmed cell death or apoptosis. One major apoptotic pathway is triggered by Fas receptor (Fas)-Fas ligand (FasL) interaction. Neoplastic cells are frequently resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis, evade Fas signals through down regulation of Fas and produce soluble Fas proteins that bind FasL thereby blocking...

BACKGROUND The transmembrane receptor Fas, together with its protein-binding partner (Fas ligand), is a key regulator of programmed cell death (i.e., apoptosis). Fas and Fas ligand also influence the ability of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells to eliminate tumor cells. However, by inducing apoptosis in activated T cells, the Fas/Fas ligand system may protect some tumor cells fro...

A deadly receptor reveals a benevolent side in a study on page 575. Landau and colleagues show that the cell death–inducing receptor Fas is required for protection against neurodegeneration in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Fas receptor (Fas), best known for its apoptotic role in the immune system, is widely expressed in nonimmune tissues, including the central nervous system. I...

Levels of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) in serum were elevated in patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and showed a significant decline during disease course. sFasL levels that were elevated before antimalarial treatment began correlated significantly with depressed total lymphocyte and T-cell counts. These data suggest that Fas-induced apoptosis might play a role in malaria-associated lymp...

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is one of the regulation mechanisms of cell homeostasis. Fas is a transmembrane receptor protein which transmits a cell death signal when cross linked with an antibody or with its physiological ligand—Fas ligand (Fas L). Fas and Fas L have a pivotal role in regulating lymphocyte apoptosis and maintaining lymphocyte homeostasis. Soluble forms of Fas and Fas L m...

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is one of the regulation mechanisms of cell homeostasis. Fas is a transmembrane receptor protein which transmits a cell death signal when cross linked with an antibody or with its physiological ligand—Fas ligand (Fas L). Fas and Fas L have a pivotal role in regulating lymphocyte apoptosis and maintaining lymphocyte homeostasis. Soluble forms of Fas and Fas L m...

Background Fas/Fas ligand (FasL)-dependent apoptotic pathway was reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of drug induced maculopapular rashes (MPRs). In this study, we investigated serum soluble FasL level to discriminate drug-induced skin reactions from other clinically resembling skin diseases such as exanthematous viral infections. We also eveluated the role of T cells in various drug-in...

AIMS To investigate the presence of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and soluble Fas (sFas) in ocular fluid of patients with uveitis. METHODS Samples of aqueous humour (AH, n=17), vitreous fluid (n=9), and serum (n=60) were collected from patients with uveitis which included Behçet's disease, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, sarcoidosis, human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) uveitis, sympathetic ...