Impaired apoptosis in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis.
We investigated the sensitivity to cell death of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). PBMCs from MS patients, following PHA stimulation, were less sensitive to cell death than those from healthy donors (mean +/- s.e.m., 22.5 +/- 1.9 in MS patients vs 36.5 +/- 2.8 in healthy controls; p = 0.0003). However, when Fas-agonist antibody was added, the increase in respect to apoptosis induced by mitogen alone was even higher in MS patients than in controls. In addition, PHA-activated PBMCs from MS patients showed higher surface expression of Fas than controls, while Bcl-2 expression was decreased. This finding raised the question of whether an impaired generation of apoptotic signals may be contributing to the immune component of MS.
Macchi
B
B
Department of Neuroscience, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
Matteucci
C
C
Nocentini
U
U
Caltagirone
C
C
Mastino
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012016:Reference Values; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D017252:CD3 Complex; D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D019014:fas Receptor