CD95 expression and CD95-mediated apoptosis of T cells in multiple sclerosis. No differences from normal individuals and no relation to HLA-DR2.
CD95-mediated apoptosis is a potent endogenous pathway of T cell elimination that has been suggested to be altered in multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is associated with the HLA-DR2, Dw2, DQ6 HLA class II haplotype. We have previously reported that T cell lines from HLA-DR2-positive individuals show enhanced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a cytokine homologous to CD95 ligand, in response to specific antigen. Here we have studied CD95 expression and susceptibility to CD95-mediated apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and activated T cells of 20 healthy individuals and 20 MS patients, half of whom were HLA-DR2-positive. MS patients did not differ from healthy individuals in either parameter. There was also no difference in CD95 expression or CD95-mediated apoptosis when MS patients and healthy individuals were grouped and compared according to HLA-DR status. These data reveal no differential regulation of PBMC/T cell apoptosis induced by CD95 receptor ligation in MS and show no impact of HLA-DR2 status on PBMC/T cell susceptibility to the same apoptotic stimulus. However, to assess the contribution of T cell apoptosis to the pathogenesis of MS further studies on other details of the complex system leading to T cell apoptosis are required.
Zipp
F
F
Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Germany. frauke.zipp@uni-tuebingen.de
Faber
E
E
Sommer
N
N
Müller
C
C
Dichgans
J
J
Krammer
P H
PH
Martin
R
R
Weller
M
M
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D015870:Gene Expression; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen; D019014:fas Receptor