Interferon gamma producing blood lymphocytes are decreased by interferon beta therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the individual course of interferon gamma producing blood lymphocyte count (IFGC) of 15 multiple sclerosis patients started on 8 MIU beta interferon administered subcutaneously each other day.


METHODS
Mononuclear blood cells were prepared before treatment and on day 3, 9, 15, as well as after month 1, 2, 3 and 4 of therapy. After stimulation intracellular interferon gamma was detected with monoclonal fluorescent antibodies and measured by flow cytometry. IFGC is given as percentage of all gated lymphocytes.


RESULTS
forty-eight hours after first interferon beta application the mean IFGC dropped significantly from 11.37 to 7.09 (P < 0.05) and to 4.22 within 4 months. Whereas the majority of patients showed a decrease of IFGC from the beginning of therapy, in three of the 15 patients a transient increase of IFGC was seen suggesting a different response to immunomodulatory therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Interferon gamma producing lymphocyte count might be a useful tool to determine the biological effect of interferon beta therapy in multiple sclerosis patients.
Petereit
H F
HF
Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie und Psychiatrie, Neurologie, Medzinische Einrichtungen, Universität zu Köln, Germany.
Bamborschke
S
S
Esse
A D
AD
Heiss
W D
WD
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma