IDDM results from pancreatic beta cell destruction by islet-reactive T cells,a process that involves beta cell apoptosis.Fas-FasL pathway plays a major role in pancreatic β cell death.Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD),the component of the tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1(TNFR1) and Fas signaling complexes,is involved in TNFR1-and Fas-induced apoptosis.Inhibiting the function of FADD will lead to blocking downstream apoptosis signal,which protects pancreatic β cells from destruction by Fas-FasL pathway.In this study we constructed eukaryotic expressing vector of fusional protein FADDdel-GFP named pFADDdel-GFP. After pFADDdel-GFP was transfected into NIT,the expression of FADDdel-GFP in NIT was detected by fluorescence microscopy and the resistance of NIT transfected with pFADDdel-GFP to cytotoxicity mediated by special T cells was detected by FACS and MTT.The results showed that NIT modified by pFADDdel-GFP obviously resisted cytotoxicity mediated by special T cells.Therefore,it may be useful in the prevention or treatment of IDDM by intervening Fas-FasL pathway.Cellular & Molecular Immunology.2004;1(5):383-386.
