Signaling through the FAS (MIM.134637) death receptor plays a critical role in the homeostasis of the immune systems.

Following ligand-induced oligomerization, the FAS receptor recruits caspase-8 (CASP8) (MIM.601763) to the receptor signaling complex through FADD (MIM.602457), which leads to processing and release into the cytosol of caspase-8 (CASP8).

Active caspase-8 induces a cascade of caspases and the rapid demise of the cell. RIPK1 (MIM.603453) is a death domain-containing protein kinase that interacts with the death domain of FAS, but does not appear to mediate FAS-initiated apoptosis.

See also

 RIPKs

• RIPK2