Mechanisms of Lymphocyte Activation and Immune Regulation VI Cell Cycle and Programmed Cell Death in the Immune System

Since programmed cell death was first described in insects in 1964 and apoptosis was described in 1972, rapid progress has been made in understanding the basic mechanisms and genes regulating programmed cell death and apoptosis. In addition, defects in various genes regulating programmed cell death have been delineated in several experimental models of human diseases. This volume surveys various aspects of these rapidly developing areas of research in programmed cell death/apoptosis. This volume should be of interest to basic immunologists and molecular biologists. The volume begins with a historical perspective of cell death. The remainder of the volume is divided into four different parts. Part I deals with the signaling pathways in apoptosis, including cell cycle control of apoptosis, role of ceramide in apoptosis, role of antibody signaling, and biochemical regulation of apoptosis. The mechanisms for recognition of apoptotic lymphocytes by macrophages are also reviewed. Part II examines the role of various genes that regulate apoptosis, including the role ofFas, FasL, and other TNF family members in apoptosis and homeostatic regulation of immune response. Recently described splice variants and their influence on apoptosis are also reviewed, and the role of the members of the Bcl-2 family in apoptosis is discussed in detail. Part III reviews various aspects of apoptosis in B lymphocytes, including mechanisms that regulate apoptosis/survival of B lymphocytes and the regulation of Fas-mediated apoptosis in B lymphocytes.

I. Cell Cycle and Signaling Pathways in Apoptosis.- 1. Apoptosis/Programmed Cell Death: A Historical Perspective.- 2. Apoptosis and Its Regulation.- 3. Mechanisms for Recognition and Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Lymphocytes by Macrophages.- 4. Cytotoxic Lymphocyte Killing Enters the ICE Age.- 5. Cross-Talk between Ceramide and PKC Activity in the Control of Apoptosis in WEHI-231.- 6. Cell Cycle Control of T Cell Apoptosis Induced by Activation through the T Cell Antigen Receptor.- 7. Role of Antibody Signaling in Inducing Tumor Dormancy.- II. Apoptosis-Regulating Genes.- 8. Regulation of Lymphoid Apoptosis by Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL.- 9. The Epstein—Barr Virus Gene BHRF1, a Homologue of the Cellular Oncogene Bcl-2, Inhibits Apoptosis Induced by Gamma Radiation and Chemotherapeutic Drugs.- 10. Structure—Function Analysis of Bcl-2 Family Proteins: Regulators of Programmed Cell Death.- 11. Role of ICE-Proteases in Apoptosis.- 12. Fas-Mediated Apoptosis.- 13. Fas Splicing Variants and Their Effect on Apoptosis.- 14. The Role of FasL and TNF in the Homeostatic Regulation of Immune Responses.- III. Apoptosis in B Cells.- 15. Signals for Survival and Apoptosis in Normal and Neoplastic B Lymphocytes.- 16. Regulation of B Cell Apoptosis.- 17. Apoptotic Cell Death in the Chicken Bursa of Fabricius.- 18. Generation and Regulation of B Cell Autoreactivity Arising in the Periphery.- 19. Inducible Resistance to Fas-Mediated Apoptosis in Primary B Lymphocytes.- IV Apoptosis in T Cells.- 20. The Thymus and T Cell Death.- 21. Genetic Regulation of Apoptosis in the Mouse Thymus.- 22. Regulation of T Cell Activation by CD28 and CTLA4.- 23. Granzyme B-Induced Apoptosis.- 24. Mature T Lymphocyte Apoptosis in the Healthy and Diseased Immune System.- 25. Autoimmunity Due to Defective NUR77, Fas,and TNF-RI Apoptosis.