title: Interferon beta in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: mechanisms of action.
abstract: Interferon beta (IFN-beta) has been shown in several clinical trials to have efficacy in MS. Its mechanism of action, however, remains unclear. In this review, several biological activities of IFN-beta are highlighted, including its inhibitory effects on proliferation of leukocytes and antigen presentation. Furthermore, IFN-beta may modulate the profile of cytokine production toward that of the anti-inflammatory phenotype, and this appears to occur in the systemic circulation and within the CNS. Finally, IFN-beta can reduce T-cell migration by inhibiting the activity of T-cell matrix metalloproteinases. These activities are likely to act in concert to account for the mechanism of IFN-beta in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: V W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chabot
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stuve
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D016899:Interferon-beta; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases