Doxycycline induces Fas/Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat T lymphocytes

Tetracyclines have been used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases associated with local infiltration of inflammatory cells and matrix destruction as observed in rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease. Fas/Fas ligand (FasL)-mediated apoptosis plays an important role in maintaining T lymphocyte homeostasis and modulating immune response. The present study demonstrates that doxycycline inhibits Jurkat T lymphocyte proliferation and induces apoptosis. The phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated Jurkat cells are more susceptible to doxycycline-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, doxycycline-induced apoptosis is associated with increased Fas/FasL expression in Jurkat cells. The increase of apoptosis in Jurkat cells treated with doxycycline is consistent with the increase of FasL expression. These results suggest that doxycycline may downregulate the inflammatory process in certain diseases by eliminating activated T lymphocytes through Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis.