Apoptosis and JNK activation are differentially regulated by Fas expression level in renal tubular epithelial cells

摘要

Apoptosis and JNK activation are differentially regulated by Fas expression level in renal tubular epithelial cells.BackgroundIn chronic renal disease, renal tubular epithelial cell (RTC) Fas expression is up-regulated, leading to apoptotic RTC deletion and tubular atrophy. In vitro, cytokine- or hypoxia-induced up-regulation of Fas expression is associated with RTC apoptosis. In contrast, constitutively expressed, low level RTC Fas does not mediate apoptosis, suggesting that Fas may be coupled to expression level-dependent RTC signaling pathways. Fas is known to signal through JNK in many systems, but the requirement of JNK activation for apoptosis remains controversial.