Apoptosis-related molecules in blood in multiple sclerosis

A failure in apoptosis of lymphocytes may lead to harmful immunoreactivity in MS. We analyzed apoptosis-related molecules including TRAIL, sFas, sFasL and MIF in the blood of 117 MS patients and controls to answer whether these molecules may be used in the evaluation of disease activity and immunomodulatory effect of IFN-β. Increased levels of sTRAIL, sFasL and MIF were found in sera of untreated patients with MS relapse indicating their association with MS disease activity. IFN-β treated patients in remission had increased TRAIL mRNA, sTRAIL, sFaL and MIF that most likely reflect bioactivity of IFN-β.