Fas expression on T cells and sFas in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the proportions of peripheral blood CD4+/Fas+ and CD8+/Fas+ cells and serum sFas levels in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients with relapses (active RRMS), those without relapses (stable RRMS), and controls over 1 year.


METHODS
Sixteen RRMS patients and 10 controls were tested monthly. Cells were analyzed by dual immunofluorescence and the sFas levels by ELISA. There were 14 relapses which occurred 1223 days after the last control visits. The measurements performed at these visits in the active RRMS patients were considered as relapse-related, while the rest were regarded as relapse-unrelated.


RESULTS
In active RRMS patients the median of CD4+ Fas+ to total CD4+ and CD8+ Fas+ to total CD8+ from relapse-related measurements were higher than the median from relapse-unrelated measurements (P=0.003, 0.004, respectively). The median of CD4+ Fas+ to total CD4+ from relapse-unrelated measurements in active RRMS was higher compared with stable RRMS (P = 0.005) and controls (P = 0.004). The sFas level from relapse-unrelated measurements was also higher in active RRMS than in stable RRMS (P = 0.04) and in controls (P = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that increased expression of Fas antigen on CD4+ subset and increased serum sFas level are valuable markers of clinical activity in MS.
Bilinska
M
M
Department of Neurology, Department of Haematology, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland. mbilinsk@dilnet.wroc.pl
Frydecka
I
I
Podemski
R
R
Gruszka
E
E
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D019014:fas Receptor