Upregulation of the apoptosis regulators cFLIP, CD95 and CD95 ligand in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology Vol. 135; no. 1; pp. 126 - 134
• Main Authors: Gomes, Andreia C, Jönsson, Gun, Mjörnheim, Susanna, Olsson, Tomas, Hillert, Jan, Grandien, Alf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-02-2003
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Apoptosis; Carrier Proteins - cerebrospinal fluid; Carrier Proteins - genetics; CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; Caspase 8; Caspase 9; Caspases - genetics; CD95; Cell Line; cFLIP; Fas Ligand Protein; fas Receptor - cerebrospinal fluid; fas Receptor - genetics; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Lymphocytes; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Membrane Glycoproteins - cerebrospinal fluid; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - immunology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Time Factors; Up-Regulation; Multiple sclerosis; CD95; cFLIP; Lymphocytes; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-5728(02)00437-X

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease involving an inflammatory reaction within the white matter of the CNS, mediated by T cells, B cells and macrophages. The pathogenesis of MS may involve impaired activation-induced cell death of activated myelin-specific mature T cells. We investigated the mRNA expression of the apoptosis mediators cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (cFLIP), caspase-8, CD95 and CD95L in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB MNCs) from MS patients using real-time PCR. The overall increased expression of the four key players in the CD95 pathway in relapsing-remitting MS suggests their involvement in the inflammatory process in this disease.