Fas and FasL expression on cells of two transplantable melanoma lines according to their different biological properties.

Fas and FasL interaction induces apoptotic cell death. In immunocompetent cells it plays a crucial role in the effector functions of the cells and in the regulation of host immune response. In tumours (e.g. melanoma), FasL expression possibly counteracts the Fas-positive effector T cells that infiltrate into tumours, and consequently the Fas/FasL interaction can contribute to the escape of tumour cells from the systemic immune response. In this study we examined differences in Fas and FasL expression on cells from the hamster melanotic melanoma line (Ma) and a more aggressive amelanotic melanoma line (Ab). We also tried to find out whether the Fas/FasL expression induces an ability to undergo spontaneous apoptosis in these two transplantable melanoma lines. Our previous studies have shown that cells of the Ma line have a higher ability to undergo spontaneous apoptosis than cells of the Ab line. Isolated transplantable melanoma cells were incubated for 4 and 24 hours and after that time the expression of Fas and FasL was estimated by flow cytometry. The results show that there was no Fas expression, although FasL was detected on both melanoma cell lines. Therefore the data reported by other authors indicate that a lack or a low level of Fas expression and an ectopic expression of FasL on melanoma cells can be an escape mechanism of the tumour, to avoid host immune responses. The content of FasL-positive melanotic melanoma cells was higher than in amelanotic melanoma cells and increased with the prolongation of the incubation time. FasL expression on amelanotic melanoma cells was detected after 24 hours at a level similar to that on melanotic melanoma cells after 4 hours incubation time. FasL expression on melanoma cells can induce apoptosis in cytotoxic T lymphocytes and NK cells which are responsible for tumour cells elimination. The results obtained suggest that the Fas/FasL system does not play any significant role in spontaneous apoptosis of two melanoma cell lines. But these results may indicate the presence of immune privilege of tumour cells with FasL expression.