Transduction of the TAT-FLIP fusion protein results in transient resistance to Fas-induced apoptosis in vivo

Although tightly regulated programmed cell death (apoptosis) possesses great importance for tissue homeostasis, several pathologic processes are associated with organ failure due to adversely activated cell apoptosis. Transient increase in apoptosis has been shown to cause organ damage during fulminant hepatitis B, autoimmune diseases, ischemia-reperfusion injury, sepsis, or allograft rejection. A defined and temporary inhibition of cell apoptosis may therefore be of high clinical relevance. Activation of death receptors results in caspase-8 recruitment to the death-inducing signaling complex, which initiates the apoptotic process through cleavage of caspase-8 and downstream substrates. This initial step may be inhibited by the caspase-8 inhibitor FLIP (FLICE inhibitory protein). To specifically inhibit the initiation of death receptor-mediated apoptosis we constructed a fusion protein containing FLIP fused N-terminally to the human immunodeficiency virus TAT domain. This TAT domain allows the fusion protein to cross the cell membrane and thus makes the FLIP domain able to interfere with the death-inducing signaling complex inside of the cell. We observed that incubation of lymphocytic Jurkat or BJAB cells with TAT-FLIPS proteins significantly inhibits Fas-induced activation of procaspase-8 and downstream caspases, preventing cells from undergoing apoptosis. Systemic application of TAT-FLIPS prolongs survival and reduces multi-organ failure due to Fas-receptor-mediated lethal apoptosis in mice. Therefore, application of cellular FLIPS in the form of a TAT fusion protein may open a promising, easily applicable new tool for providing protection against transient, pathologically increased apoptosis in various diseases.