Fas ligand mRNA levels of circulating leukocytes reflect endothelial dysfunction in hyperlipidemic but not in non-hyperlipidemic patients.

To find a novel marker for identifying patients at high-risk for endothelial dysfunction among patients with atherosclerosis, we examined the correlation between mRNA levels of Fas ligand (FasL), an apoptosis-inducing factor, in circulating leukocytes and clinical parameters in these patients. FasL mRNA levels of circulating leukocytes were measured with the TaqMan-PCR method. A negative correlation was observed between brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (%FMD) and FasL mRNA levels of leukocytes in hyperlipidemic but not in non-hyperlipidemic patients.