Analysis of BAFF and TRAIL expressionlevels in multiple sclerosis patients:evaluation of expression underimmunomodulatory therapy

摘要

Objectives - Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL) and B cell-activating factor (BAFF), the members of tumornecrosis factor superfamily, play essential roles in immune homeostasisand may have potential contributions to the autoimmune process inmultiple sclerosis (MS). Material and methods - Thirty-five relapsingremitting MS (RRMS) patients and 19 healthy individuals wereenrolled in the study. The expression of TRAIL on peripheral bloodlymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. The serum levels ofsoluble TRAIL (sTRAIL) and soluble BAFF (sBAFF) weredetermined by ELISA. Further, we evaluated the effect of IFN-beta onsTRAIL, sBAFF levels and on TRAIL surface expression in thesepatients on the third and sixth months following thetreatment. Results and conclusion - These preliminary results signifythat MS patients are heterogenous in TRAIL expression. Additionally,during the IFN-beta treatment, the soluble form of TRAIL increasesconcomitantly as its surface expression decreases on lymphocytes. Thebasal sBAFF levels of patients were significantly higher than thecontrol group and no significant change was observed. Thus, thechanges in TRAIL expression may be a potential parameter indicatingthe response to IFN-beta 1 therapy at individual level.