title: Increased levels of APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) mRNA in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: B cells play an indispensable, yet indeterminate, role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We measured mRNA of APRIL-a promotor of B-cell survival-in peripheral blood and quantified protein levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in MS patients and controls. APRIL mRNA levels in monocytes and T cells were significantly higher in MS patients than in controls. Levels of soluble APRIL in plasma were higher in patients with chronic progressive MS than in patients with relapsing-remitting MS, albeit not significantly. MS may thus be associated with increased transcription in peripheral blood of factors promoting B-cell survival, including APRIL.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. Mathula.Thangarajh@neurotec.ki.se
authors.forename: Mathula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thangarajh
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masterman
authors.forename: Uros
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rot
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duvefelt
authors.forename: Boel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brynedal
authors.forename: Virginija Danylaité
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Karrenbauer
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hillert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C114631:TNFSF13 protein, human; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; C496866:XIAP protein, human