ABSTRACT
Abnormalities in the mechanisms regulating apoptosis may have a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of apoptosis of peripheral blood [PB] lymphocytes in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis [JIA] and correlating it with CD95 [APO-1/Fas] antigen expression and serum levels of sFas and interleukin-15 [IL-15] in different types of onset and activity of the disease. PB lymphocytes apoptotic index [AI], CD95 [APO-1/Fas] antigen expression, serum levels of sFas and IL-15 were detected in 30 cases of JIA and 20 healthy controls. Results were correlated with the type of onset, activity of the disease and acute phase indicators [ESR, CRP]. The mean values of AI, CD95, sFas and IL-15 were higher in children with JIA than in healthy controls. Significant difference was only found for AI especially with systemic type of onset and high activity. Also the levels of IL-15 increased with activity especially in the systemic type. Moreover, AI showed a significant positive correlation with ESR and CRP but not with IL-15, CD95, or sFas. AI of lymphocytes was high in systemic onset JIA and in active disease and correlated with ESR and CRP, but not with IL-15, CD95 expression or serum sFas