Increased Fas antigen expression in murine retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency syndrome, MAIDS

The Fas antigen (Fas), which is a cell surface protein belonging to the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, mediates apoptosis. To assess the contribution of Fas to the pathogenesis of retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency, we examined the kinetics of Fas expression on the lymphocytes during the course of murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS) induced by a defective LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus. The Fas-positive cells were increased in proportion both in alpha beta T cells and B cells with the progression of MAIDS. The appearance of Fas-positive cells in alpha beta T cells preceded those in B cells during the course of MAIDS. Among alpha beta T cells, about half of the Thy1.2+ alpha beta T cells were positive for Fas, while almost all of Thy1.2- CD4+ alpha beta T cells were of the Fas-positive phenotype. The Fas-positive cells in MAIDS mice, especially unique Thy1.2-CD4+ alpha beta T cells, were easily rendered apoptotic by stimulation via Fas, indicating that Fas expressed on the lymphocytes is functional. Furthermore, concomitant infection with Mycobacterium avium in MAIDS mice caused a marked increase in Fas-positive cells accompanied by a severely impaired T cell reactivity to polyclonal stimuli. Taken together, these results suggest that possible participation of the Fas system in the pathogenesis of retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency.