title: Increased perforin expression in multiple sclerosis patients during exacerbation of disease in peripheral blood lymphocytes.
abstract: The expression of perforin (P) in subpopulations of the PBL of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in stable and active phase of disease was investigated, by simultaneous detection of P (intracellular molecule) and cell surface antigens. A significant increase of CD4+P+ (p < 0.02) and CD16+P+ (p < 0.001), and decrease of CD56+P+ (p < 0.05) cells in active MS was found. In active disease there is a highly significant increase (p < 0.001) of average fluorescence intensity (AFI) for P in CD4(dim+) cells, and these cells are larger in size and have higher granularity (p < 0.05) compared to CD4(bright+) p(dim+) cells. Surprisingly, there were no CD25+P+ cells in either group of MS patients. These results show that CD4+P+ cells are upregulated in active disease in cell number, in the level of P expression per cell, and in the level of cell activation (increase in cell size and granularity). It is suggested that CD4+P+ cytotoxic cells may play a role in the pathogenetic mechanisms of MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubesa
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Podack
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sepcić
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rukavina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054353:Perforin; D010641:Phenotype; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D054353:Perforin