Cutting edge: CD4+ T cells kill CD8+ T cells via Fas/Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis |
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Authors: | C Piazza MS Gilardini Montani S Moretti E Cundari E Piccolella |
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Affiliation: | Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, University La Sapienza, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome. |
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Abstract: | To explore the possibility that CD4+ T cells, described to mediate the elimination of themselves or B lymphocytes, could also mediate the elimination of CD8+ T cells, we analyzed apoptotic phenomena in cocultures of CD4+ and CD8+ autologous T cell lines. The data show that CD8+ T cells were lysed by activated CD4+ helper T cells by a Fas/FasL-mediated mechanism. CD4+ T cells were not lysed by activated CD8+ T cells, although Fas and FasL were equally expressed and anti-Fas Abs induced apoptosis in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations. The results allowed us to speculate that CD4+ T cells not only help CD8+ T lymphocytes to mature into effector killer cells and to sustain this function but can also limit their growth. |
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