NF-kappa B-dependent Fas ligand expression

Apoptosis of lymphocytes is triggered by different stimuli through the induced expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL). Using T cell activation-induced Fas/FasL expression as a model system, we observed a differential regulation of the induction of Fas and FasL. cAMP inhibited activation-induced apoptosis by an effective suppression of TCR-coupled FasL expres sion. In contrast, cAMP weakly interfered with activation-induced Fas expression, and the remaining Fas molecules on cAMP-treated T cells still mediated apoptosis. Among the major transcription elements on the FasL promoter, the activation of NF-kappaB, but not of NF-AT and AP-1, was suppressed by cAMP. The prominent role of NF-kappaB was further demonstrated by a better activation of the FasL promoter and an elevated expression of FasL induced by p65 (RelA) overexpression than those induced by AP-1 or NF-AT. Our results demonstrate the essential role of NF-kappaB for the expression of the death receptor ligand FasL, and suggest a direct link between NF-kappaB activation and the expression of FasL. NF-kappaB may be the common mediator in the induction of FasL through TCR activation and by various stress stimuli.