Fas activates NF-kappa B and induces apoptosis in T-cell lines by signaling pathways distinct from those induced by TNF-alpha

The p55 tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor and the Fas (CD95/APO-1) receptor share an intracellular domain necessary to induce apoptosis, suggesting they utilize common signaling pathways. To define pathways triggered by Fas and TNF-alpha we utilized human CEM-C7 T-cells. As expected, stimulation of either receptor induced apoptosis and TNF-alpha-induced signaling included the activation of NF-kappa B. Surprisingly, Fas-induced signaling also triggered the activation of NF-kappa B in T cells, yet the kinetics of NF-kappa B induction by Fas was markedly delayed. NF-kappa B activation by both pathways was persistent and due to the sequential degradation of I kappa B-alpha and I kappa B-beta. However, the kinetics of I kappa B degradation were different and there were differential effects of protease inhibitors and antioxidants on NF-kappa B activation. Signaling pathways leading to activation of apoptosis were similarly separable and were also independent of NF-kappa B activation. Thus, the Fas and TNF receptors utilize distinct signal transduction pathways in T-cells to induce NF-kappa B and apoptosis.