Serum sAPO-1/Fas levels in multiple sclerosis.

UNLABELLED: Soluble APO-1 (sAPO-1) may prevent apoptosis of lymphocytes induced by activation of the APO-1/Fas receptor.

OBJECTIVES

To determine sAPO-1 levels in the serum of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and controls in order to investigate if abnormal lymphocyte apoptosis occurs in this disease.

METHODS

Serum samples from patients with MS, other neurological diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy controls were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

We did not detect differences in mean serum sAPO-1 levels between patients with multiple sclerosis and controls.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary study suggests that resistance of peripheral blood lymphocytes to apoptosis mediated by sAPO-1 is not likely to be a major factor in the development of autoreactive cells in MS.