ABSTRACT Advances in apoptosis research, especially in relation to leukemia, have been reviewed. Since the discovery of the Fas antigen (CD95), our understanding of normal T cell regulation has been improving. Tumor cells are eradicated by cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells. Fas/Fas ligand interaction is quite important as a negative regulatory system controlling normal hematopoiesis as well as TNFα and the interferon system. CD95 is a predictive marker of chemoresponsiveness and responsiveness to differentiation therapy in acute myelocytic leukemia. We have demonstrated that endothelial cell-derived interleukin-8 takes a part in regulating apoptosis of myeloid leukemia cells. Like T cells and natural killer cells, endothelial cells can play an important role in regulating apoptosis. We also found that β2-microglobulin may play an important role in apoptosis of myeloid as well as lymphoid leukemia cell lines. New observations like these will be useful to develop new insight into treatment of leukemia.
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