ELEVATED LEVELS OF A SOLUBLE FORM OF THE T-CELL ACTIVATION ANTIGEN CD27 IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

The expression of the T cell membrane molecule CD27 - a molecule that has recently been shown to belong to the nerve growth factor receptor superfamily - is strongly increased after activation of T lymphocytes via the T cell receptor/CD3 complex. In addition, activated cells release a 28-32 kDa soluble form of CD27 in their supernatant which can also be detected in serum and urine of healthy individuals. In this study we show that levels of soluble (s) CD27 are significantly elevated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and of patients suffering from other inflammatory neurological diseases (OIND), whereas increased levels of sCD25 (soluble interleukin-2 receptor) were only found in CSF of patients with OIND. In MS patients, a significant correlation was found between CSF sCD27 titer and IgG index.