The Journal of Immunology · 1997 · 54 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesCell BiologyImmunologyAdaptive ImmunityApoptosisCellular ImmunologyApoptosis In Immune CellsApoptotic SignalingCell-mediated ImmunityProgrammed Cell DeathT Cell ActivationT Cell BiologyCd4 Positive T CellsCd4 T Cell ActivationCd8 Positive T CellsCytotoxic T Lymphocyte FunctionFas Ligand-mediated ApoptosisFas-fas Ligand Mediated KillingImmune Cell CytotoxicityT Helper Cells
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.