SERUM SAPO-1 FAS LEVELS IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

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 th is disease. Methods - Serum samples from patients with MS, other neuro logical diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy controls we re determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results - We did n ot detect differences in mean serum sAPO-1 levels between patients wit h multiple sclerosis and controls. Conclusions - This preliminary stud y suggests that resistance of peripheral blood lymphocytes to apoptosi s mediated by sAPO-1 is not likely to be a major factor in the develop ment of autoreactive cells in MS.