title: Role of interferons in demyelinating diseases.
abstract: IFN beta-1b reduces the frequency of major multiple sclerosis attacks by 50 percent. Serial MRI scanning over the course of the clinical trial that led to approval of the agent revealed a significant lessening both in disease activity and in accumulating burden of disease in IFN beta-1b-treated patients compared to placebo-treated controls. The mechanism by which IFN beta-1b exerts its beneficial effect in multiple sclerosis is unknown. T suppressor cell function fails during MS attacks and is persistently subnormal in multiple sclerosis patients with progressive disease. IFN beta-1b partially restores suppressor function in multiple sclerosis patients. IFN beta-1b also inhibits release of lymphotoxin, tumor necrosis factor, and interferon gamma, at least in vitro. All three cytokines are toxic to oligodendrocytes. In contrast; production of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta 1) is increased by IFN beta-1b. TGF beta 1 is an immunosuppressive cytokine. All of the above listed actions of IFN beta-1b could contribute to its beneficial effect. Perhaps all do.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Arnason
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toscas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dayal
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noronha
mesh_terms: D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a