title: The effects of long-term administration of recombinant alpha-2 interferon on lymphocyte subsets, proliferation, and suppressor cell function in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The immunological effects of long-term treatment with recombinant alpha-2 interferon (rIFN-alpha 2) were investigated in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with 2 X 10(6) units of IFN or a placebo three times per week for one year. A mild lymphopenia was observed in IFN patients who also showed a decrease in the absolute number of total T cells in the blood (OKT3 binding cells); however, the percentage of cells reacting with OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8 antibodies did not change significantly during the study. The percentage of cells reacting with the Leu-7 antibody, which recognizes NK cells, was unchanged. During MS exacerbations, placebo patients showed a tendency for decreased levels of OKT3 and OKT8 cells. In contrast, IFN patients did not demonstrate a decrease in either OKT3 or OKT8 cells during disease attacks. Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced suppressor cell activity was depressed in both IFN and placebo-treated patients during attacks. Lymphoproliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and ConA were unchanged. These studies demonstrate that long-term treatment with rIFN-alpha 2 induces a generalized T-cell lymphopenia, but at this dose does not significantly affect the profiles of T-cell subsets and suppressor cell function in MS patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins