engleski

CD95 expression on peripheral blood T-lymphocytes in patients with relapsing-remitting, primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

The aim of this study was to analyse the expression of CD95 molecule (cell surface receptor by which the apoptotic process is mediated) on peripheral blood (PB) CD4+ and CD8+T lymphocytes in patients with relapsing-remitting (RRMS), primary progressive (PPMS) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), immediately before and after pulse corticosteroid therapy (PCT) , and 6 months after the beginning of investigation, when RRMS patients were in the remission. The prospective study included 50 patients with multiple sclerosis diagnosed by McDonald&#8217; s criteria: 27 RRMS patients (4M, 23F), age from 20 to 51 years, the average expanded disability status scale (EDSS) 3.24+/-1.18 ; 10 PPMS patients (5M, 5F), age from 24 to 57 years, the average EDSS 5+/-1.55 ; and 13 SPMS patients (4M, 9F), age from 30 to 53 years, the average EDSS 5.62+/-1.24. PCT consisted of intravenous methylprednisolone 1000 mg/day in 250 ml physiological saline in short infusions during 5 days. The proportions of CD95+ T lymphocyte subsets were analysed by the use of monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD4-PE/Cy5, anti-CD8-FITC and anti-CD95-PE, DAKO) and flow cytometry (FACSscan cytometer and CellQuest software, Becton Dickinson). The results were presented by mean+/-SD. For statistical analysis Two-way ANOVA for repeated-measures with post hoc Sheffe&#8217; s test was used. The p values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. The proportion of CD4+CD95+T lymphocytes significantly decreased after therapy in RRMS patients (46.91+/-7.79 vs. 39.5+/-5.67, p<0.01), PPMS patients (46.16+/-5.9 vs. 40.02+/-7.22, p<0.01) and SPMS patients (51.26+/-6.56 vs. 44.68+/-7.75, p<0.01). After 6 months the same proportion significantly increased in PPMS patients (40.02+/-7.22 vs. 46.1+/-5.95, p<0.01) and SPMS patients (44.68+/-7.75 vs. 50.99+/-6.46, p<0.01), while in RRMS patients the same proportion further significantly decreased (39.5+/-5.67 vs.36.1+/-4.62, p<0.01). The proportion of CD8+CD95+ T lymphocytes significantly decreased after therapy in RRMS patients (26.71+/-5.21 vs. 18.89+/-5.05, p<0.01) and SPMS patients (21.25+/-4.35 vs. 17.17+/-5.83, p<0.05). After 6 months the same proportion significantly increased only in SPMS patients (17.17+/-5.83 vs. 21.21+/-4.59, p<0.05). The differences in dynamics of stated laboratory parameters, indicators of T lymphocyte apoptosis, point to the different patophysiologic events in RRMS patients compared to the PPMS and SPMS patients. This study is an integral part of the project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Croatia entitled "Apoptosis and neuronal growth factors in multiple sclerosis" (code: 0108296).

CD95 antigen; apoptosis; T lymphocytes; multiple sclerosis

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