Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-z${\alpha}$ from Cells Undergoing Death by FADD

Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cell is observed in the vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. The death of vascular smooth muscle cells can be induced by cytokines and activation of Fas-pathways. It is widely accepted that apoptosis occurs without inflammation. There are, however, reports that apoptosis is not silent. Vascular smooth muscle cells dying by Fas-pathway secreted inflammatory cytokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. This study have investigated whether apoptosis is associated with potent inflammatory cytokine tumor tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$. The cells which undergo apoptosis by expressing FADD in the absence of tetracycline expressed and secreted TNF-${\alpha}$. When the level of TNF-${\alpha}$ transcript was investigated, dying smooth muscle cells exhibited transcriptional activation of TNF-${\alpha}$. The data indicate that dying vascular smooth muscle cells contribute to inflammation by expressing inflammatory cytokines. The present study suggests that apoptosis could not be silent in certain pathological situations.