Interferon-beta treatment in multiple sclerosis patients decreases the number of circulating T cells producing interferon-gamma and interleukin-4.
Systemic administration of interferon (IFN)-beta has been recently approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The immunological mechanism by which IFN-beta ameliorates MS is still partially unknown. We measured the number of blood circulating CD4(+), CD4(-), CD8(+), and CD8(-) T cells secreting IFN-gamma and IL-4 in 26 RRMS patients followed for up to 9 months of an alternate day s.c. treatment with 8x16 IU of IFN-beta1b. Compared to pre-treatment values, a significant (P<0.05) reduction of CD4(+), CD4(-), CD8(+) and CD8(-) cells producing IFN-gamma and of CD4(+) and CD4(-) cells producing IL-4 was observed in MS patients. The IFN-beta-associated effect was evident soon after the beginning of the treatment and persisted for the entire follow-up period. We did not observe any effect of IFN-beta treatment on the percentage of IL-4-producing CD8(+) and CD8(-) cells nor in that of natural killer (NK) cells producing IFN-gamma. Our results show that IFN-beta treatment in MS patients induces a profound and persistent down-regulation of the number of circulating T cells secreting IFN-gamma and IL-4 thus suggesting a broader rather than a specific immunomodulatory effect of IFN-beta in MS.
Furlan
R
R
Neuroimmunology Unit-DIBIT, Dept. of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy.
Bergami
A
A
Lang
R
R
Brambilla
E
E
Franciotta
D
D
Martinelli
V
V
Comi
G
G
Panina
P
P
Martino
G
G
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000032:analysis; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma