Fig. 6: A Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte (CTL)
Inducing Apoptosis
by Fas/FasL Interaction
A cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL), by
way of its TCR and CD8, can bind to MHC-I/epitope on a virus-infected and cause
apoptosis by way of perforins and granzymes. In addition, a Fas ligand (FasL)
on the CTL can bind to a Fas molecule on the surface of many cell types and
activate the enzymes that lead to apoptosis.
Most likely this mechanism is used to remove effector lymphocytes once they are no longer needed after an adaptive immune response.
Illustration of A Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte (CTL) Inducing Apoptosis
by Fas/FasL Interaction .jpg by Gary E. Kaiser, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology,
The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://cwoer.ccbcmd.edu/science/microbiology/index_gos.html.
Last updated: Feb., 2021
Please send comments and inquiries to Dr.
Gary Kaiser