FAS-ligand regulates differential activation-induced cell death of human T-helper 1 and 17 cells in healthy donors and multiple sclerosis patients

Cell Death Dis. 2015 May 7;6(5):e1741. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2015.100.

Abstract

Functionally distinct T-helper (Th) subsets orchestrate immune responses. Maintenance of homeostasis through the tight control of inflammatory Th cells is crucial to avoid autoimmune inflammation. Activation-Induced Cell Death (AICD) regulates homeostasis of T cells, and it has never been investigated in human Th cells. We generated stable clones of inflammatory Th subsets involved in autoimmune diseases, such as Th1, Th17 and Th1/17 cells, from healthy donors (HD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and we measured AICD. We find that human Th1 cells are sensitive, whereas Th17 and Th1/17 are resistant, to AICD. In particular, Th1 cells express high level of FAS-ligand (FASL), which interacts with FAS and leads to caspases' cleavage and ultimately to cell death. In contrast, low FASL expression in Th17 and Th1/17 cells blunts caspase 8 activation and thus reduces cell death. Interestingly, Th cells obtained from healthy individuals and MS patients behave similarly, suggesting that this mechanism could explain the persistence of inflammatory IL-17-producing cells in autoimmune diseases, such as MS, where their generation is particularly substantial.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Death / immunology
  • Fas Ligand Protein / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
  • Th1 Cells / cytology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th17 Cells / cytology
  • Th17 Cells / immunology*
  • Tissue Donors

Substances

  • FASLG protein, human
  • Fas Ligand Protein