title: Interferon beta-1b inhibits gelatinase secretion and in vitro migration of human T cells: a possible mechanism for treatment efficacy in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Treatment with interferon beta-1b has substantial clinical benefit in the demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis, yet the mechanism of action in the disease remains largely unknown. Gelatinase A (matrix metalloproteinase-2, 72-kd gelatinase) and B (matrix metalloproteinase-9, 92-kd gelatinase) are matrix metalloproteinases capable of enzymatic digestion of subendothelial basement membrane constituents. In human T cells, interleukin-2 induces gelatinase secretion and enhances gelatinase-dependent migration across an artificial basement membrane-like layer in vitro. Pretreatment of T cells with interferon beta-1b for 48 hours decreased interleukin-2-induced gelatinase production and secretion as determined by zymography. In parallel to the downregulation of gelatinase secretion, pretreatment with interferon beta-1b inhibited T-cell migration across the basement membrane in vitro by up to 90%, but had only a minor impact on cell locomotion per se. For both gelatinase secretion and T-cell migration, the inhibitory effect mediated by exposure to interferon beta-1b was dose dependent. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis also showed that interferon beta-1b downregulates the interleukin-2 receptor alpha-chain and lowered the affinity of interleukin-2 to the cell surface by 30%, which may represent an additional mechanism for the observed effects of interferon beta-1b. The dramatic effects of interferon beta-1b on gelatinase expression and migration raise the possibility that its beneficial effects in multiple sclerosis may result from interference with the capacity of activated T cells to traverse the basement membrane and migrate to the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, University Hospitals, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leppert
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waubant
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bürk
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Oksenberg
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hauser
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D017364:Collagenases; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a