Requirement of Fas expression in B cells for tolerance induction

Fas is a death receptor that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor family and is expressed in various cell types, in particular, in lymphoid cells. A loss-of-function mutation in the Fas gene (lpr mutation) causes lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, and accelerates autoimmune diseases in some strains of mice such as MRL. In this report, Fas cDNA driven by murine lck distal promoter was used to establish transgenic MRL-lpr mouse lines. The transgenic mice expressed functional Fas in mature T cells and B cells. The lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly caused by accumulation of abnormal T cells in the lpr mice were rescued in the transgenic mice. The number of B cells in the periphery as well as the serum IgG level were significantly reduced, and the autoimmune symptoms and mortality were ameliorated. These results indicate that both mature B cells and T cells must undergo Fas-mediated apoptosis to prevent the development of autoimmune diseases.