Inducible resistance to Fas—mediated apoptosis in B cells

Apoptosis produced in B cells through Fas(APO-1,CD95) triggering is regulated by signals derived from other surface receptors:CD40 engagement produces upregulation of Fas expression and marked susceptibility to Fas-induced cell death,whereas antigen receptor engagement,or IL-4R engagement,inhibits Fas killing and in so doing induces a state of Fas-resistance,even in otherwise sensitive,CD40-stimulated targets.Surface immunoglobulin and IL-4R utilize at least partially distinct path ways to produce Fas-resistance that differentially depend on PKC and STAT6,respectively.Further,surface immunoglobulin signaling for inducible Fas-resistance bypasses Btk,requires NF-κB,and entails new macromolecular synthesis.Terminal effectors of B cell Fas-resistance include the known anti-apoptotic gene products,Bcl-XL and FLIP,and a novel anti-apoptotic gene that encodes FAIM (Fas Apoptosis Inhibitory Molecule).faim was identified by differential display and exists in two alternatively spliced forms;faim-S is broadly expressed,but faim-L expression is tissue-specific.The FAIM sequence is highly evolu tionarily conserved,suggesting an important role for this molecule throughout phylogeny.Inducible resistance to Fas killing is hypothesized to protect foreign antigen-specific B cells during potentially hazardous interactions with FasL-bearing T cells,whereas autoreactive B cells fail to become Fas-resistant and are deleted via Fas-dependent cytotoxicity.Inadvertent or aberrant acquisition of Fas-resistance may permit autoreactive B cells to escape Fas deletion,and malignant lymphocytes to impede anti-tumor immunity.

Inducible resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis in B cells

Apoptosis produced in B cells through Fas (APO-1, CD95) triggering is regulated by signals derived from other surface receptors: CD40 engagement produces upregulation of Fas expres. sion and marked susceptibility to Fas-induced cell death, whereas antigen receptor engagement, or IL-4R engagement, inhibits Fas killing and in so doing induces a state of Fas-resistance, even in otherwise sensitive, CD40-stimulated targets. Surfaceim. munoglobulin and IL-4R utilize at least partially distinct pathways to produce Fas-resistance that differentially depend on PKC and STAT6, respectively. Further, surface immunoglob- "lin signaling for inducible Fas-resistance bypasses Bib, requires NF-GB, and entails new macromolecular synthesis. Terminal effectors of B cell Fas-resistance include the known anti-apoptotic gene products, Bcl-xL and FLIP, and a novel anti-apoptotic gene that encodes FAIM (Fas Apoptosis Inhibitory Molecule). faim was identified by differential display and exists in two alternatively spliced forms; maim-S is broadly expressed, but faim-L expression is tissue-specific. The FAIM sequence is highly evolu tionarily conserved, suggesting an important role for this molecule throughout phylogeny. Inducible resistance to Fas killing is hypothesized to protect foreign antigen-specific B cells during potentially hazardous interactions with FasL-bearing T cells, whereas autoreactive B cells fail to become Fas-resistant and are deleted via Fas-dependent cytotoxicity. Inadvertent or aberrant acquisition of Fas-resistance may permit autoreactive B cells to escape Fas deletion, and malignant lymphocytes to impede anti-tumor immunity.