[Involvement of Fas and Fas ligand in case of human fulminant hepatitis].

Fas antigen has been found to be a cell surface molecule which can induce apoptosis. Since it has been reported that administration of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody into mouse peritoneal cavity causes fulminant hepatitis (FH) in vivo, the Fas-Fas ligand system is thought to play important roles in massive hepatocytes death in FH. In murine system, there are several reports which showed Fas-Fas ligand system involved in FH. In human, the expression of Fas antigen was markedly increased on the cell surface of the hepatocytes and Fas ligand was expressed on the hepatic infiltrated lymphocytes. It is suggested that the Fas-Fas ligand system also play important roles in human FH.