title: Methylprednisolone attenuates interferon-beta induced expression of HLA-DR on monocytes.
abstract: The effect of methylprednisolone on constitutive and interferon-beta (IFN-beta) induced HLA-DR expression on monocytes from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients was investigated. Constitutive HLA-DR expression was reduced by 50% following a single dose (500 mg) of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP). Stimulation with natural IFN-beta, in vitro, resulted in a 20 fold increase in HLA-DR expression. Following IVMP, IFN-beta inducible HLA-DR levels were reduced (non-significantly) by 20-30%. Experiments in which monocytes from normal subjects and MS patients were pre-treated in vitro with methylprednisolone prior to IFN-beta stimulation revealed that induction of HLA-DR was significantly inhibited; in contrast, IFN-beta induced HLA-DR expression was not down-regulated following subsequent in vitro treatment with methylprednisolone. These findings suggest that the immunomodulatory effects of IVMP could be attenuated in MS patients receiving regular IFN-beta therapy.
authors.affiliation: Regional Immunology Laboratory, Royal Victoria Hospital, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. a.crockard@qub.ac.uk
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Crockard
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Treacy
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Droogan
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hawkins
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008775:Methylprednisolone