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The TRAIL of Death

R G Goodwin1, C A Smith

  • 1Immunex Corporation, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA.

Apoptosis : an International Journal on Programmed Cell Death
|December 4, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) triggers apoptosis in cancer cells but its normal functions are unclear. New research reveals four TRAIL receptors, influencing its complex biological roles.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) is known to induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines.
  • The in vivo physiological functions of TRAIL are not well understood.
  • The discovery of multiple TRAIL receptors adds complexity to its biological system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the known biological effects of TRAIL.
  • To describe the structure and potential functions of newly identified TRAIL receptors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on TRAIL and its receptors.
  • Analysis of the structural and functional characteristics of TRAIL receptors.

Main Results:

  • TRAIL induces apoptosis in transformed cells.
  • Four distinct receptors for TRAIL have been identified.
  • Two of these receptors possess cytoplasmic death domains, suggesting signaling capabilities.

Conclusions:

  • TRAIL plays a significant role in apoptosis induction, particularly in cancer.
  • The identification of multiple receptors, including those with death domains, highlights the complexity of TRAIL signaling.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the normal physiological roles of TRAIL and its receptors in vivo.

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