Fas Receptor Up-Regulation and Membrane Localization Concurrent with Apoptosis in Idiopathic Esophageal Ulceration: Toward a Better Understanding of Esophageal Injury in AIDS

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 180; no. 1; pp. 211 - 215
• Main Authors: Houghton, JeanMarie, Korah, Reju M., Kim, Kyung H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.07.1999; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications; Adult; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Amino acids; Antigens; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Concise Communications; Cytokines; Cytomegalovirus; Esophageal Diseases - etiology; Fas Ligand Protein; fas Receptor; FasL protein; Female; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human viral diseases; Humans; In Situ Hybridization; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Infectious diseases; Lymphocytes; Male; Medical sciences; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - isolation & purification; Messenger RNA; Mucosa; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - isolation & purification; Signal Transduction; Specimens; Ulcer - etiology; Ulcers; Up-Regulation; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Human; Immunopathology; Esophageal disease; Cytokine; Idiopathic; Retroviridae; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Infection; Virus; Cell death; Etiology; Viral disease; Ulcer; Human immunodeficiency virus; Quantitative analysis; Apoptosis; Biological receptor
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1086/314832

Activation of the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway in the etiology of idiopathic esophageal ulcerations (IEUs) was investigated. Constitutive expression of Fas ligand (Fas L) was found in the basal layer of the normal esophageal mucosa and in IEUs and cytomegalovirus ulcerations. In addition to an altered cytokine environment, there was significant up-regulation of Fas antigen mRNA and membrane localization of the receptor in IEU specimens. Concomitant increase in the basic components of Fas machinery, together with elevated mucosal apoptosis, strongly suggests the potential role of the Fas signaling pathway in the onset of tissue destruction associated with IEUs.