Fas ligand (FasL) is a transmembrane protein originally described as a proapoptotic molecule inducibly expressed on cytotoxic T cells. Recent studies have shown that FasL expression can also trigger an inflammatory response, depending on the nature and status of the Fas+ target population. As such, it is evident that FasL expression must be stringently regulated. One aspect of this regulation is the ability of the membrane-bound form of FasL to be cleaved by a metalloproteinase; such cleavage rapidly reduces the level of FasL cell expression and releases a soluble protein that serves as an antagonist. Thus the overall impact of FasL expression is a balance between the membrane-bound and soluble forms.FasL can also be constitutively expressed by non-lymphoid tissues and, in some of these cases, FasL expression has been linked to the immune privilege of certain tissues or immune evasion of certain tumors. The significance of cleavage at these sites are unknown. The functional properties of transfected cell lines that express either wildtype FasL (wtFasL), membrane-only FasL (mFasL), or soluble-only FasL (sFasL) have been compared, and cells expressing mFasL were found to be remarkably more potent effectors than their wtFasL counterparts. For example, mFasL cells kill Fas+ target cells 5-10 times more effectively than wtFasL cells; mFasL cells induce greater neutrophil extravasation into the peritoneum than wtFasL cells; and mFasL lymphoma cells injected into syngeneic mice via the """"""""immunoprivileged"""""""" anterior chamber of the eye are rejected and induce long-term immunity. Based on these observations, the goals of the current application will be two-fold. First, to analyze the cell types responsible for FasL-triggered tumor rejection and long term immunity and to further explore potential applications of mFasL expression to tumor immunotherapy regimens and secondly, to determine how cleavage moderates the function of FasL expressed by lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues.This analysis will be facilitated by the use of a knock-in mouse strain rendered incapable of FasL cleavage as a result of gene-targeted deletion of the FasL metalloproteinase site. These studies will help to assess the feasibility of clinical applications of forced FasL expression and they should further reveal the significance of FasL expression by non-lymphoid tissues.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01CA090691-01S1
Application #
6473902
Study Section
Experimental Immunology Study Section (EI)
Program Officer
Finerty, John F
Project Start
2001-03-14
Project End
2006-02-28
Budget Start
2001-07-01
Budget End
2002-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$117,469
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
604483045
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
Krishnan, Anitha; Fei, Fei; Jones, Alexander et al. (2016) Overexpression of Soluble Fas Ligand following Adeno-Associated Virus Gene Therapy Prevents Retinal Ganglion Cell Death in Chronic and Acute Murine Models of Glaucoma. J Immunol 197:4626-4638
Bossaller, Lukas; Rathinam, Vijay A K; Bonegio, Ramon et al. (2013) Overexpression of membrane-bound fas ligand (CD95L) exacerbates autoimmune disease and renal pathology in pristane-induced lupus. J Immunol 191:2104-14
Han, H; Xu, W; Headley, M B et al. (2012) Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)-mediated dermal inflammation aggravates experimental asthma. Mucosal Immunol 5:342-51
Bossaller, Lukas; Chiang, Ping-I; Schmidt-Lauber, Christian et al. (2012) Cutting edge: FAS (CD95) mediates noncanonical IL-1? and IL-18 maturation via caspase-8 in an RIP3-independent manner. J Immunol 189:5508-12
Gregory, Meredith S; Hackett, Caroline G; Abernathy, Emma F et al. (2011) Opposing roles for membrane bound and soluble Fas ligand in glaucoma-associated retinal ganglion cell death. PLoS One 6:e17659
Gregory, Meredith S; Saff, Rebecca R; Marshak-Rothstein, Ann et al. (2007) Control of ocular tumor growth and metastatic spread by soluble and membrane Fas ligand. Cancer Res 67:11951-8
Gregory, Meredith S; Koh, Sean; Huang, Eric et al. (2005) A novel treatment for ocular tumors using membrane FasL vesicles to activate innate immunity and terminate immune privilege. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 46:2495-502
Saff, Rebecca R; Spanjaard, Elena S; Hohlbaum, Andreas M et al. (2004) Activation-induced cell death limits effector function of CD4 tumor-specific T cells. J Immunol 172:6598-606
Xiao, Sheng; Jodo, Satoshi; Sung, Sun-Sang J et al. (2002) A novel signaling mechanism for soluble CD95 ligand. Synergy with anti-CD95 monoclonal antibodies for apoptosis and NF-kappaB nuclear translocation. J Biol Chem 277:50907-13
Jodo, S; Xiao, S; Hohlbaum, A et al. (2001) Apoptosis-inducing membrane vesicles. A novel agent with unique properties. J Biol Chem 276:39938-44