Fas-induced apoptosis in B cells

Abstract

Engagement of the cell surface receptor Fas/APO-1 (CD95) initiates a sequence of intracellular events that leads to apoptotic cell death, and this outcome occurs in B cells as it does in other cell types. Fas signaling for B cell death is of particular interest because the expression and function of Fas is altered by engagement of additional cell surface receptors, leading to marked receptor-specific variation in susceptibility to Fas-induced apoptosis. Evidence suggests that the sensitivity of B cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis is intimately connected to homeostasis in the serological arm of the immune system and plays a role in the dysregulation that occurs in certain autoimmune and malignant dyscrasias.