Impaired Fas Response and Autoimmunity in Pten+/− Mice

AD Cristofano, P Kotsi, YF Peng, C Cordon-Cardo… - Science, 1999 - science.org
Science, 1999science.org
Inactivating mutations in the PTEN tumor suppressor gene, encoding a phosphatase, occur
in three related human autosomal dominant disorders characterized by tumor susceptibility.
Here it is shown that Pten heterozygous (Pten+/−) mutants develop a lethal polyclonal
autoimmune disorder with features reminiscent of those observed in Fas-deficient mutants.
Fas-mediated apoptosis was impaired in Pten+/− mice, and T lymphocytes from these mice
show reduced activation-induced cell death and increased proliferation upon activation …
Inactivating mutations in the PTEN tumor suppressor gene, encoding a phosphatase, occur in three related human autosomal dominant disorders characterized by tumor susceptibility. Here it is shown that Pten heterozygous (Pten +/−) mutants develop a lethal polyclonal autoimmune disorder with features reminiscent of those observed in Fas-deficient mutants. Fas-mediated apoptosis was impaired in Pten +/− mice, and T lymphocytes from these mice show reduced activation-induced cell death and increased proliferation upon activation. Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase inhibitors restored Fas responsiveness inPten +/− cells. These results indicate thatPten is an essential mediator of the Fas response and a repressor of autoimmunity and thus implicate the PI 3-kinase/Akt pathway in Fas-mediated apoptosis.
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