title: Recombinant interferon-beta blocks proliferation but enhances interleukin-10 secretion by activated human T-cells.
abstract: Results from recent clinical trials have indicated that recombinant interferon-beta (rIFN-beta) is a promising drug for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a disease of supposed autoimmune etiology. To gain insight into the immunoregulatory properties of this cytokine, we analyzed effects of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) on T-cell functions in vitro. Interferon-beta inhibited T-cell proliferation, as well as T-cell-dependent immunoglobulin secretion, in a dose-dependent manner. IFN-beta did not inhibit upregulations of CD40L on activated T-cells, but blocked induction of CD25 on stimulated T- and B-lymphocytes. Secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumour necrosis alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-13 was inhibited by the addition of IFN-beta, whereas IL-4 secretion was unaffected. Interestingly, IFN-beta enhanced secretion of IL-2 about two-fold and secretion of IL-10 nearly four-fold. In summary, these findings suggest that IFN-beta may exert direct effects on T- and beta-cell function in vivo. In addition, enhanced secretion of IL-10 by activated T-cells may interfere with newly initiated and ongoing inflammatory immune reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Viro-Immunology, Central Laboratory, The Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rep
authors.forename: R Q
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Hintzen
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: van Lier
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D016899:Interferon-beta