Loss of Fas (CD95/APO-1) regulatory function is an important step in early MALT-type lymphoma development

Fas (CD95, APO-1) mutations were found in autoimmune diseases and some lymphomas, suggesting impairment of Fas-mediated cell death signaling that may cause tumor development. Because mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type lymphoma B cells recognize autoantigens and proliferate in response to antigen and T cell-mediated signals, it is suggestive that autoreactive B cell lymphoma precursor cells may have escaped the Fas-mediated checkpoint that normally operates in healthy individuals. Using different biochemical, molecular, and functional approaches, we analyzed the Fas signaling in malignant B cells from seven MALT-type lymphomas that were additionally characterized for the t(11;18)(q21;q21) and four gastric diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBL). All DLBLs and three of seven MALT-type lymphomas were resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, four of five MALT-type lymphomas analyzed and one of three DLBLs analyzed showed mutations in Fas mRNA transcripts but no loss of heterozygosity in the Fas promotor region. Alternative mechanisms of resistance to apoptosis, such as decreased expression of Fas or production of soluble Fas were not operative. Therefore, it is suggestive that a subgroup of MALT-type lymphoma B cells, irrespective of t(11;18)(q21;q21), escape the censoring Fas pathway by mutating and inactivating Fas. This identifies a key regulatory step in early MALT-type lymphomagenesis.