Fas与FasL的分子生物学研究进展

Fas是细胞表面诱导凋亡的分子,是I型膜蛋白,属TNF受体家族成员。而Fas配体（FasL)是Ⅱ型膜蛋白,属TNF家族成员。Fas与FasL结合,可向细胞传递死亡信号,引发细胞凋亡。Fas在人体中表达及功能正常与否,对人体免疫调控起重要作用。     

肿瘤坏死因子家族及其相关药物的研究进展

细胞凋亡是进化保守的重要生物学过程,具有重要的生理和病理作用,如在免疫系统的发育与稳态以及多种疾病（包括肿瘤）的发 生、发展、预后及治疗等过程中起重要作用。因此,近年来参与细胞凋亡信号转导的肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）/TNF 受体（TNFR）家族的重要 成员TNFα/TNFR、Fas/FasL和TRAIL/TRAILR成为重要的药物靶点,并开发出多个相关靶向药物,尤其是生物药物,其中有些在临床疗 效和商业上获得巨大成功。简介参与细胞凋亡信号转导的TNF/TNFR家族重要成员,着重对其通过介导细胞凋亡而发挥的生物学作用及其 相关药物研发作一综述,希望对我国的药物研发有所裨益。     

受体相互作用蛋白3——细胞凋亡与坏死的调节阀

综述了受体相互作用蛋白(RIPs)蛋白结构和RIP3调控细胞凋亡与坏死机制的研究进展．受体相互作用蛋白3(receptor-interacting protein 3, RIP3)是丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶家族成员之一,该蛋白质家族包含一类高度保守的丝/苏氨酸激酶结构域．RIP家族激酶作为细胞应激传感分子,在调控细胞凋亡、细胞坏死和存活通路中发挥重要作用．近年发现,RIP3参与肿瘤坏死因子TNFα诱导的细胞程序化坏死的生物学过程．认识RIP3调控TNFα诱导的细胞凋亡与坏死不同死亡途径转换的分子机制,有助于发现肿瘤治疗的新策略．     

肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体（TRAIL）及抗肿瘤作用

肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体（TRAIL）是肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）超家族成员之一,能选择性的诱导肿瘤细胞、转化细胞凋亡,而对正常组织无毒性,有望成为肿瘤治疗的新方法,备受人们的关注。本文从TRAIL的结构、受体、诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡机制及在肿瘤治疗中的应用等方面作了介绍,以期为TRAIL临床应用提供参考。     

TNF受体家庭介导的细胞凋亡信号转导

肿瘤坏死因子（ＴＮＦ）家庭是一类多功能的细胞因子,具有诱导细胞凋亡、抗病毒、免疫调节等多种生物学活性,其中一些成员可以通过和细胞膜上相应受体结合,启动细胞内的凋亡机制,而诱导细胞凋亡,一些蛋白质（如ＴＲＡＤＤ、ＦＡＤＤ、ＲＩＰ、ＲＡＩＤＤ等）参与这些信号传递过程,越来赵多的ＴＮＦ家庭成员,ＴＮＦ受体以及与细胞凋亡相产在的Ｃａｓｐａｓｅ蛋白酶２成员被人们发现。     

以TRAIL为靶点的肿瘤治疗研究进展

肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡配体（tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand,TRAIL）是肿瘤坏死因子（tumor necrosis factor,TNF）超家族成员。TRAIL与其受体结合后启动凋亡信号转导,选择性地诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,而对正常组织细胞没有明显的伤害,而且一些药物和细胞因子可协同TRAIL诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡。本文就TRAIL及其受体、TRAIL诱导凋亡的机制以及影响凋亡的因素和途径,以TRAIL为靶点的肿瘤治疗的研究现状作一综述。     

胞内接头蛋白TRAFs家族

肿瘤坏死因子（tumor necrosis factor,TNF）受体相关因子（receptor-associated factor,TRAF）家族是一类胞内接头蛋白,能介导TNF受体和Toll-like／IL-1受体超家族成员与多种下游信号通路包括NF—κB（nuclear factor κB）和JNK（Jun N-terminal kinase）的信号传导。TRAF蛋白家族参与调控细胞增殖、分化乃至凋亡等生理过程。由于其在信号通路中的关键作用,TRAFS蛋白的失调与多种疾病的发生相关。本文结合最新的研究进展对TRAFs蛋白家族在信号传导通路中的地位进行介绍,并探讨了TRAFs及其相关蛋白在临床上可能的应用前景。     

TNF家族新成员TRAIL及其受体与细胞凋亡

肿瘤坏死因子家族（ＴＮＦ）成员在细胞凋亡的调控中发挥重要作用。ＴＲＡＩＬ是最近发现的ＴＮＦ家族成员。在体外实验中,ＴＲＡＩＬ能诱导多种肿瘤细胞凋亡,而正常组织细胞却对其不敏感,提示ＴＲＡＩＬ可能成为一种新的抗肿瘤药物。ＴＲＡＩＬ受体的发现揭示了一种新的细胞凋亡调控机制,即通过假受体竞争性抑制配体,从而诱导细胞凋亡作用。ＴＲＡＩＬ可能与Ｆａｓ系统互补而发挥作用,并且与ＨＩＶ－１感染所致的Ｔ细胞减少及     

RIP3蛋白的研究进展

受体相互作用蛋白-3是丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶家族成员（RIPs）之一,该蛋白家族作为细胞重要应激传感分子,在调控细胞存活、细胞凋亡和细胞坏死通路中发挥重要作用.近年研究发现,RIP3参与肿瘤坏死因子TNF-α诱导的细胞程序性坏死生物学过程,是TNF-α诱导的细胞凋亡与坏死不同死亡途径转换的关键开关分子.本文就RIP3分子的发现、结构特点、细胞亚定位、生理功能及其分子机制进行综述,并对RIP3分子的研究进行了展望.     

TNF相关的凋亡诱导配体及其受体研究进展

TNF相关的凋亡诱导配体（TNF-related apoptosis-induicing ligand,TRAIL),属于TNF超家族成员,与Apo-1L(FasL)有较高的同源性,又称为Apo-2L。TRAIL有两类受体,一类是死亡受体,如DR4和DR5,TRAIL与DR4或DR5结合可以诱导细胞凋亡;另一类是“诱骗”受体,如DcR1、DcR2,可以竞争性地与TRAIL结合,逃避或抑制TRAIL诱导的正常细胞损伤。TRAIL及其受体的发现为肿瘤的治疗提供了一个新的方向。     

Signalling by CD95 and TNF receptors: not only life and death

Members of the TNF family of receptors play important roles in normal physiology and in defence. The recent rapid progress in the understanding of the mechanisms of apoptosis has been accompanied by assumptions that TNF family receptors such as CD95(Fas/APO-1) only have a role in regulating cell survival. While regulation of cell death is one important function of TNF family receptors, they are capable of activating signal transduction pathways that have many other effects. The present review will focus on signalling of some TNF family receptors in the immune system, not only for apoptosis, but also for survival or activation.     

Innate direct anticancer effector function of human immature dendritic cells. II. Role of TNF, lymphotoxin-alpha(1)beta(2), Fas ligand, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand

Our recent studies have demonstrated that human immature dendritic cells (DCs) are able to directly and effectively mediate apoptotic killing against a wide array of cultured and freshly-isolated cancer cells without harming normal cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that this tumoricidal activity is mediated by multiple cytotoxic TNF family ligands. We determine that human immature DCs express on their cell surface four different cytotoxic TNF family ligands: TNF, lymphotoxin-alpha(1)beta(2), Fas ligand, and TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand; while cancer cells express the corresponding death receptors. Disruptions of interactions between the four ligands expressed on DCs and corresponding death-signaling receptors expressed on cancer cells using specific Abs or R:Fc fusion proteins block the cytotoxic activity of DCs directed against cancer cells. The novel findings suggest that DC killing of cancer cells is mediated by the concerted engagement of four TNF family ligands of DCs with corresponding death receptors of cancer cells. Overall, our data demonstrate that DCs are fully equipped for an efficient direct apoptotic killing of cancer cells and suggest that this mechanism may play a critical role in both afferent and efferent anti-tumor immunity.     

Combining proteasome inhibition with TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL) for cancer therapy

Apoptosis has an essential role in embryogenesis, adult tissue homeostasis and cellular responses to stressful stimuli. Therefore, increased apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of various ischaemic, degenerative and immune disorders. Conversely, genetic aberration that results in a reduction or abolition of apoptosis can promote tumorigenesis and underlie the resistance of cancer cells to various genotoxic anticancer agents. Therefore, a detailed knowledge of the control of apoptotic pathways could aid in the rational design of effective therapeutics for a variety of human diseases including cancer. One major way to promote apoptosis involves signaling through members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily. On binding to their appropriate receptors, some TNF family members can promote caspase activation and apoptosis. Early studies on TNF indicated that a limited number of tumor cell lines could be induced to undergo apoptosis on exposure to TNF. Another member of the TNF family Fas ligand (FasL) is also known to induce apoptosis in a variety of tumor cells. Although TNF and FasL can efficiently induce apoptosis in a limited number of tumor cells, administration of either of these agents is associated with extreme toxicity. This toxicity has precluded further development of either TNF or FasL for cancer therapy. However, within the last 8 years another member of the TNF family, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL) has been characterized, which induces apoptosis of a wider range of cancer cells than either TNF or FasL. Surprisingly, most normal non-transformed cells are quite resistant to the apoptotic effects of Apo2L/TRAIL. This selective toxicity for cancer cells is the basis for the current enthusiasm for Apo2L/TRAIL as a potential novel anticancer therapy. In this symposium report, we provide a brief overview of Apo2L/TRAIL, its receptors and their signaling pathways. We discuss findings on the antitumor effects of Apo2L/TRAIL alone or in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. In addition, we present recent information from our groups concerning the possible therapeutic benefits of combining Apo2L/TRAIL with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. This article is a symposium paper from the conference “Progress in Vaccination against Cancer 2004 (PIVAC 4)”, held in Freudenstadt-Lauterbad, Black Forest, Germany, on 22–25 September 2004     

Nonapoptotic functions of FADD-binding death receptors and their signaling molecules

Death receptors (DRs) are surface receptors that when triggered have the capacity to induce apoptosis in cells by forming the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). The first protein recruited to form the DISC is the adaptor protein FADD/Mort1. Some members of the DR family, CD95 and the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5, directly bind FADD, whereas others, such as TNF receptor I and DR3, initially bind another adaptor protein, TRADD, which then recruits FADD. While all DRs can activate both apoptotic and non-apoptotic pathways, it has been widely assumed that the main physiological role of FADD-binding death receptors is to trigger apoptosis. However, recent work has ascribed multiple non-apoptotic activities to these receptors and/or the signaling components of the DISC.     

Death of HT29 adenocarcinoma cells induced by TNF family receptor activation is caspase-independent and displays features of both apoptosis and necrosis

The HT29 adenocarcinoma is a common model of epithelial cell differentiation and colorectal cancer and its death is an oft-analyzed response to TNF family receptor signaling. The death event itself remains poorly characterized and here we have examined the involvement of caspases using pan-caspase inhibitors. zVAD-fmk did not block death of HT29 cells in response to activation of the Fas, TRAIL, TNF, TWEAK and LTbeta receptors. The secondary induction of TNF or the other known bona fide death inducing ligands did not account for death following LTbeta receptor activation indicating that TNF family receptors can trigger a caspase-independent death pathway regardless of the presence of canonical death domains in the receptor. To provide a frame of reference, the phenotype of HT29 death was compared to four other TNF family receptor triggered death events; Fas induced Jurkat cell apoptosis, TNF/zVAD induced L929 fibroblast necrosis, TNF induced death of WEHI 164 fibroblastoid cells and TNF/zVAD induced U937 death. The death of HT29 and U937 cells under these conditions is an intermediate form with both necrotic and apoptotic features. The efficient coupling of TNF receptors to a caspase-independent death event in an epithelial cell suggests an alternative approach to cancer therapy.     

IFN-gamma enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis through IRF-1.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the TNF family and a potent inducer of apoptosis. TRAIL has been shown to effectively limit tumor growth in vivo without detectable cytotoxic side-effects. Interferon (IFN)-gamma often modulates the anticancer activities of TNF family members including TRAIL. However, little is known about the mechanism. To explore the mechanism, A549, HeLa, LNCaP, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were pretreated with IFN-gamma, and then exposed to TRAIL. IFN-gamma pretreatment augmented TRAIL-induced apoptosis in all these cell lines. A549 cells were selected and further characterized for IFN-gamma action in TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Western blotting analyses revealed that IFN-gamma dramatically increased the protein levels of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1, but not TRAIL receptors (DR4 and DR5) and pro-apoptotic (FADD and Bax) and anti-apoptotic factors (Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, cIAP-1, cIAP-2 and XIAP). To elucidate the functional role of IRF-1 in IFN-gamma-enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis, IRF-1 was first overexpressed by using an adenoviral vector AdIRF-1. IRF-1 overexpression minimally increased apoptotic cell death, but significantly enhanced apoptotic cell death induced by TRAIL when infected cells were treated with TRAIL. In further experiments using an antisense oligonucleotide, a specific repression of IRF-1 expression abolished enhancer activity of IFN-gamma for TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Therefore, our data indicate that IFN-gamma enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis through IRF-1.     

TRAIL-R2: a novel apoptosis-mediating receptor for TRAIL.

TRAIL is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines and induces apoptosis in a wide variety of cells. Based on homology searching of a private database, a receptor for TRAIL (DR4 or TRAIL-R1) was recently identified. Here we report the identification of a distinct receptor for TRAIL, TRAIL-R2, by ligand-based affinity purification and subsequent molecular cloning. TRAIL-R2 was purified independently as the only receptor for TRAIL detectable on the surface of two different human cell lines that undergo apoptosis upon stimulation with TRAIL. TRAIL-R2 contains two extracellular cysteine-rich repeats, typical for TNF receptor (TNFR) family members, and a cytoplasmic death domain. TRAIL binds to recombinant cell-surface-expressed TRAIL-R2, and TRAIL-induced apoptosis is inhibited by a TRAIL-R2-Fc fusion protein. TRAIL-R2 mRNA is widely expressed and the gene encoding TRAIL-R2 is located on human chromosome 8p22-21. Like TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2 engages a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway but, in contrast to TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2 mediates apoptosis via the intracellular adaptor molecule FADD/MORT1. The existence of two distinct receptors for the same ligand suggests an unexpected complexity to TRAIL biology, reminiscent of dual receptors for TNF, the canonical member of this family.     

Sendai Virus Infection Induces Apoptosis through Activation of Caspase-8 (FLICE) and Caspase-3 (CPP32)

Sendai virus (SV) infection and replication lead to a strong cytopathic effect with subsequent death of host cells. We now show that SV infection triggers an apoptotic program in target cells. Incubation of infected cells with the peptide inhibitor z-VAD-fmk abrogated SV-induced apoptosis, indicating that proteases of the caspase family were involved. Moreover, proteolytic activation of two distinct caspases, CPP32/caspase-3 and, as shown for the first time in virus-infected cells, FLICE/caspase-8, could be detected. So far, activation of FLICE/caspase-8 has been described in apoptosis triggered by death receptors, including CD95 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-R1. In contrast, we could show that SV-induced apoptosis did not require TNF or CD95 ligand. We further found that apoptosis of infected cells did not influence the maturation and budding of SV progeny. In conclusion, SV-induced cell injury is mediated by CD95- and TNF-R1-independent activation of caspases, leading to the death of host cells without impairment of the viral life cycle.     

Immunoregulatory activity of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha: induction of TNF receptors on human T cells and TNF-alpha-mediated enhancement of T cell responses

The expression of specific tumor necrosis factor (TNF) membrane receptors and biological effects of recombinant TNF (rTNF)-alpha on normal human T lymphocytes were studied. Although resting T cells lacked specific binding capacity for rTNF-alpha, high affinity (Kd 70 pM) TNF receptors were de novo induced upon primary activation of T cells. Comparison of TNF receptor expression with that of high affinity interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) receptors, respectively, revealed similarities to IL 2-receptor expression with respect to kinetics of induction. However, maximum expression of TNF receptors (approximately equal to 5000/cell at day 6) and subsequent decline occurred approximately 3 days after the peak of IL 2-receptor expression. In contrast, no change in the expression of IFN-gamma receptors (Kd 10 pM, 300 to 400 receptors/cell) was found in the course of T cell activation. On activated TNF receptor positive T cells, TNF-alpha exerted multiple stimulatory activities. Thus TNF increased the expression of HLA-DR antigens and high affinity IL 2 receptors. As a consequence, TNF-treated T cells showed an enhanced proliferative response to IL 2. Moreover, TNF-alpha was effective as a co-stimulator of IL 2-dependent IFN-gamma production. These data indicate that TNF-alpha may regulate growth and functional activities of normal T cells.