In vitro induction of neuronal apoptosis by anti-Fas antibody-containing sera from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

FH Yi, C Lautrette, C Vermot-Desroches… - Journal of …, 2000 - Elsevier
Sera from 26% of patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) induced in vitro
apoptosis of a human neuroblastoma cell line, as detected by two methods, and most
contained anti-Fas autoantibodies. In contrast, Alzheimer sera (studied as controls) very
rarely induced apoptosis and did not contain detectable anti-Fas antibodies. Soluble Fas-
ligand levels in ALS sera were not different from those in normal sera, except for slightly
higher levels in a single case. In mixed cultures of rat embryonic brain and spinal cord cells …