It has been suggested that apoptosis plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of @entity792 . In @entity2621 which is a typical organ-specific @entity792 , Fas- @entity12 -mediated apoptosis has been demonstrated as the mechanism of follicular epithelial cell @entity204 in which Fas is expressed by @entity1356 stimulation of @entity12 is constitutively expressed on follicular epithelial cells. The processes involved in this finding and some questions concerning epithelial cell @entity204 are presented. The thyroid tissue of @entity2621 was examined for DNA fragmentation of follicular epithelial cells by the TUNEL method. DNA fragmentation was observed more frequently on thyroid follicles in the area adjacent to lymphoid cell follicles than on those in the central area. Electron microscopic study supported the results of TUNEL study. Immunohistochemical study on Fas and @entity12 expression on follicular epithelial cells of various @entity1374 showed that Fas and @entity12 were strongly expressed on follicular epithelial cells in @entity2621 and @entity259 . Epithelial cells of @entity1 with @entity2743 and @entity5651 , however, were scarcely stained. Fas and @entity12 expression on follicular epithelial cells were well correlated. In vitro study on follicular epithelial cells clarified that @entity12 was constitutively expressed on epithelial cells not only in @entity2621 but also in @entity5651 . Fas expression was induced by @entity1356 stimulation. @entity1356 stimulation also brought about apoptosis of epithelial cells and epithelial cells killed Fas-positive target cells. Therefore, it was concluded that @entity12 expressed constitutively on follicular epithelial cells interacts with Fas on epithelial cells expressed by @entity1356 stimulation to induce apoptosis of epithelial cells.

[Apoptosis in XXXX ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity1356 :: ('3553', 'Gene') :: ['IL-1 beta'] @entity2621 :: ('MESH:D050031', 'Disease') :: ["Hashimoto's thyroiditis"] @entity2743 :: ('MESH:D006111', 'Disease') :: ["Graves' disease"] @entity12 :: ('356', 'Gene') :: ['FasL'] @entity259 :: ('MESH:D013964', 'Disease') :: ['thyroid cancer'] @entity5651 :: ('MESH:D006042', 'Disease') :: ['nontoxic goiter', 'adenomatous goiter'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['death'] @entity792 :: ('MESH:D001327', 'Disease') :: ['autoimmune disease', 'autoimmune diseases'] @entity1374 :: ('MESH:D013959', 'Disease') :: ['thyroid diseases']
@entity2621 :: (MESH:D050031,Disease) :: ['Hashimoto's thyroiditis']
