A dominant interfering mutant of FADD/MORT1 enhances deletion of autoreactive thymocytes and inhibits proliferation of mature T lymphocytes

EMBO J. 1998 Feb 2;17(3):706-18. doi: 10.1093/emboj/17.3.706.

Abstract

Members of the tumour necrosis factor receptor family that contain a death domain have pleiotropic activities. They induce apoptosis via interaction with intracellular FADD/MORT1 and trigger cell growth or differentiation via TRADD and TRAF molecules. The impact of FADD/MORT1-transduced signals on T lymphocyte development was investigated in transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative mutant protein, FADD-DN. Unexpectedly, FADD-DN enhanced negative selection of self-reactive thymic lymphocytes and inhibited T cell activation by increasing apoptosis. Thus signalling through FADD/MORT1 does not lead exclusively to cell death, but under certain circumstances can promote cell survival and proliferation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / pharmacology
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Clone Cells / drug effects
  • Clone Cells / physiology
  • Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein
  • Genes, Dominant / genetics
  • Genes, Dominant / physiology
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mitogens / pharmacology
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Mutation / physiology
  • Serpins / genetics
  • Serpins / physiology
  • Superantigens / physiology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Thymus Gland / cytology
  • Thymus Gland / drug effects
  • Thymus Gland / immunology*
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • fas Receptor / genetics
  • fas Receptor / pharmacology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • FADD protein, human
  • Fadd protein, mouse
  • Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein
  • Mitogens
  • Serpins
  • Superantigens
  • fas Receptor