Biomedical subjects
Merja Soilu-Hänninen
Publications and source records attributed to Merja Soilu-Hänninen.
Hyaluronate receptor (CD44) and integrin alpha4 (CD49d) are up-regulated on T cells during MS relapses.
A longitudinal study of peripheral blood T cell adhesion molecule expression was performed in 24 relapsing-remitting MS patients. There were 15 relapses in 11 patients during 15 months of observation. In comparison with remission, expression of hyaluronate receptor (CD44) was highly significant, and expression of integrin alpha4 (CD49d, VLA-4) significantly up-regulated during relapses. CD44 and CD49d are putative activity markers and CD44 a potential novel therapeutic target in MS.
Downregulation of VLA-4 on T cells as a marker of long term treatment response to interferon beta-1a in MS.
We determined longitudinally the expression of a panel of adhesion molecules on T cells and soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and tumor necrosis factor apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in serum during first year of the PRISMS Study with IFNbeta1a in MS. Clinical data and quantitative MRI data were available for 4 years. VLA-4 was down-regulated on T cells and VCAM-1 was up-regulated in serum during the first 3 to 6 months of therapy in patients with favorable long-term treatment response (EDSS progression </=1.0 in 4 years). Short disease duration and low EDSS were clinical pre-treatment characteristics related to good long-term response to therapy.