Rheumatology 2000; 39: 471-480
© 2000 British Society for Rheumatology
Fas-associated death domain protein is a Fas-mediated apoptosis modulator in synoviocytes
1 Rheumatology, Immunology, and Genetics Program, Institute of Medical Science, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki 216-8512, and
2 Department of Immunology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
Objective. To understand the intracellular regulatory mechanisms in Fas-mediated apoptosis of synoviocytes, we examined the involvement of caspases [caspase-1/ICE (interleukin-1ß converting enzyme), caspase-3/CPP32, and caspase-8/FLICE] and Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) forming a death-inducing signalling complex (DISC) in Fas-mediated apoptosis of synoviocytes.
Methods. Synoviocytes were obtained from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. The number of dead cells was counted after treatment with anti-Fas monoclonal antibody in the presence of caspase-1-, -3-, or -8-specific inhibitors. The involvement of caspases and FADD in Fas-mediated apoptosis of RA synoviocytes was examined by immunoblot and immunoprecipitation analyses.
Results. RA synoviocytes expressed high levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, and FADD compared with OA synoviocytes. Interestingly, Fas ligation activated caspase-8 and caspase-3 with the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), corresponding to apoptosis of RA synoviocytes. Furthermore, specific inhibitors for caspase-3 and caspase-8 but not caspase-1 suppressed Fas-induced apoptosis of RA synoviocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Caspase-8-specific inhibitor suppressed the activation of caspase-3 after Fas ligation on RA synoviocytes. Importantly, FADD was selectively recruited to the Fas death domain during Fas-mediated apoptosis of RA synoviocytes, consistent with sensitivity to the Fas-mediated apoptosis.
Conclusion. Our findings suggest that Fas-mediated apoptosis in synoviocytes may be regulated at the level of recruitment of FADD to the DISC, subsequently leading to the activation of the FADD/caspase-8/caspase-3 signalling pathway.
KEY WORDS: Apoptosis, Fas, FADD, Caspase, Rheumatoid arthritis.
Correspondence to: K. Nishioka.
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