[Expression of Fas-antigen on T cells in multiple sclerosis].

: We reported the expression of Fas antigen and activation markers (HLA-DR,CD69) on T cells in 14 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls. The percentage of Fas antigen positive T cells was 29.7 +/- 7.8% in patients with untreated MS. This value was statistically higher than 17.7 +/- 10.5% of healthy controls (p = 0.03). But there was no significant difference in the rate of activation markers in peripheral blood between two groups. Fas antigen and activation markers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with MS tend to be higher than those in peripheral blood. High expression rate of Fas antigen and activation markers on T cells in CSF may be reflecting increased induction of apoptosis on activated T cells.