IT98
Immunology Today 19:121-125
Fas-FasL interactions: a common pathogenetic mechanism in
organ-specific autoimmunity
Ruggero De Maria and Roberto Testi
Dept of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
Corresponding authors: R. D. M. (rdemaria@tin.it ) and R. T. (tesrob@flashnet.it)
Organ-specific autoimmunity is characterized by the accelerated loss of selected cell types, resulting in
specific tissue destruction and disease. The role of different genetic or environmental factors in initiating
the autoimmune reactivity is still unclear. However, novel mechanisms responsible for tissue destruction
have recently been revealed. Here, Ruggero De Maria and Roberto Testi propose that Fas ligand may
represent a common weapon during the destructive phase of organ-specific autoimmunity.