title: Interferon gamma producing blood lymphocytes are decreased by interferon beta therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie und Psychiatrie, Neurologie, Medzinische Einrichtungen, Universität zu Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Petereit
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bamborschke
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Esse
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Heiss
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma