Increased expression of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and aminopeptidase N (APN) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with multiple sclerosis.

We studied CD10 Ag of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and CD13 Ag of aminopeptidase N (APN) expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as cells activation markers and for their transendothelial migration properties in three groups of MS patients (total 58); with acute exacerbation of MS (n = 18), primary progressive MS (n = 17) and with MS remission (n = 23). The control group (OND) consisted of 24 patients, suffering from other noninflammatory neurological diseases. CD10 Ag and CD13 Ag expression on PBMC was higher in clinically active MS (acute exacerbation and progressive MS) compared to MS remission and OND groups. Our study suggests that CD10 Ag and CD13 Ag can be useful mononuclear cell activation markers in the course of MS. CD13 Ag expression on PBMC may be also the sensitive marker of these cells transendothelial migration properties.