Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The expression of <jats:italic>m‐fas/apo1</jats:italic> (CD95) and its soluble form (<jats:italic>s‐fas</jats:italic>) was studied in patients with early onset pauciarticular (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 23) and systemic juvenile chronic arthritis (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 7). RNA was prepared from peripheral blood of patients and 22 healthy controls and from 23 samples derived from the synovial fluid of JCA patients. The ratio of <jats:italic>m‐fas/s‐fas</jats:italic> transcripts was calculated by densitometry of <jats:italic>fas</jats:italic>‐specific RT‐PCR products. An inverted ratio of <jats:italic>m‐fas/s‐fas</jats:italic> transcripts was found in PBMC and mononuclear cells from the joints of early onset pauciarticular JCA patients. The <jats:italic>m‐fas/s‐fas</jats:italic> ratios were similar in PBMC and mononuclear cells from synovial fluid. PBMC from patients with a systemic JCA showed the same <jats:italic>m‐fas/s‐fas</jats:italic> ratio as healthy controls, with an inverted ratio of both transcripts in cells from the synovial fluid. The data indicate a role of Fas/Apo1 regulated apoptosis in EOPA‐JCA which is not limited to the affected joints.</jats:p>