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Lack of T-Cell Receptor–Induced Signaling Is Crucial for CD95 Ligand Up-regulation and Protects Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Cells from Activation-Induced Cell Death

¹ Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; ² Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany; ³ Campbell Family Institute for Cancer Research, Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and ⁴ Laboratory for Experimental Dermatology, Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany

Requests for reprints: Claus-Detlev Klemke, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, Mannheim 69167, Germany. Phone: 496213833918; Fax: 496213833815; E-mail: claus-detlev.klemke{at}haut.ma.uni-heidelberg.de.

Key Words: cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) • activation-induced cell death (AICD) • apoptosis resistance • cFLIP • CD95 ligand (CD95L)

Restimulation of previously activated T cells via the T-cell receptor (TCR) leads to activation-induced cell death (AICD), which is, at least in part, dependent on the death receptor CD95 (APO-1, FAS) and its natural ligand (CD95L). Here, we characterize cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) cells (CTCL tumor cell lines and primary CTCL tumor cells from CTCL patients) as AICD resistant. We show that CTCL cells have elevated levels of the CD95-inhibitory protein cFLIP. However, cFLIP is not responsible for CTCL AICD resistance. Instead, our data suggest that reduced TCR-proximal signaling in CTCL cells is responsible for the observed AICD resistance. CTCL cells exhibit no PLC-1 activity, resulting in an impaired Ca²⁺release and reduced generation of reactive oxygen species upon TCR stimulation. Ca²⁺ and ROS production are crucial for up-regulation of CD95L and reconstitution of both signals resulted in AICD sensitivity of CTCL cells. In accordance with these data, CTCL tumor cells from patients with Sézary syndrome do not up-regulate CD95L upon TCR-stimulation and are therefore resistant to AICD. These results show a novel mechanism of AICD resistance in CTCL that could have future therapeutic implications to overcome apoptosis resistance in CTCL patients. [Cancer Res 2009;69(10):4175–83]