Level of sFas/APO 1 in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis

The aim of the study was to measure sFas/APO 1 serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) during relapses, as an index of inhibition of apoptosis of activated lymphocytes in eight patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis, and 12 healthy controls. The level of serum and CSF sFas/APO 1 was determined by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. No significant differences were detected in the sFas/APO 1 serum level between patients and controls, but the levels in CSF was lower in the former. Our results suggest the possibility of Fas mediated apoptosis as a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.