DNA FRAGMENTATION IN GLIAL-CELLS IN A CEREBRAL BIOPSY FROM A MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS PATIENT

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by myelin destruction and oligoden drocyte loss. The neuropathological hallmark of the disease is the pre sence of demyelinated plaques in the central nervous system. We have r ecently found a gliotoxic factor in MS cerebrospinal fluid which induc es programmed cell death in vitro, in glial cells. Here we show DNA fr agmentation and glial cell death in biopsy samples, obtained from a pa tient who underwent surgery with suspicion of tumor, and whose disease record, including brain autopsy, demonstrated an active multiple scle rosis. We used the in situ TUNEL technique, a method which sensitively detects the DNA fragmentation accompanying programmed cell death in t issue sections, and compatible with classical fixation techniques. We found intense DNA fragmentation in nuclei of glial cells at-or very ne ar-to the site of demyelination. A double labeling technique showed th at glial fibrillary associated protein positive astrocytes may undergo programmed cell death in multiple sclerosis.