No requirement of reactive oxygen intermediates in Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Fas is a cell surface molecule that mediates apoptosis, but the intracellular mechanisms leading to apoptosis are not well understood. It is known that diethylmaleate (DEM)-induced cell death can be blocked by substances with antioxidant activity. Here we have studied whether antioxidants have any effect on Fas-mediated apoptosis and show that they are not able to block Fas-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, it seems that reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI)-dependent and -independent mechanisms which lead to apoptosis do exist. Fas-mediated apoptosis probably proceeds via a ROI-independent pathway.