Blood levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) are elevated in both relapsing remitting and chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and are further augmented by treatment with interferon-beta 1b (IFN-beta1b).
The serum levels of TGF-beta1, measured by solid-phase ELISA, were determined to be significantly augmented in patients with both relapsing remitting (RR) and secondary chronic progressive (CP) MS compared with sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Moreover, in RR MS patients, the blood levels of the cytokine were further augmented either during relapses or, in a rapid but reversible fashion, by s.c. injection with 8 million International Units (MIU) IFN-beta1b. Because TGF-beta1 possesses multiple anti-inflammatory activities, we hypothesize that the increase in its circulating levels in RR and CP MS patients might represent an endogenous anti-inflammatory mechanism aimed at counteracting ongoing immunoinflammatory events, and that IFN-beta may further potentiate this natural defensive apparatus.
Institute of Microbiology, University of Milan, Italy.
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D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a