Induction of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 by interferon beta-1b in correlation with clinical and MRI activity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of interferon (IFN) beta-1b on the serum levels of sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2 and TNF-beta in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in correlation with clinical and MRI activity.


METHODS
Serum samples were obtained every 3 months from 24 patients treated with 8 x 10(6) U of IFN beta-lb every other day (treatment group) and from 21 patients without any immunomodulatory therapy (control group) over a 15-month observation period. The cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. Cranial MRI was performed every 6 months to determine the burden of disease of every patient.


RESULTS
In the treatment group we found an obvious increase of sTNFR1 and sTNF-R2 (P < 0.001) and relatively stable serum levels of TNFbeta with no statistical significance (P = 0.56). In the control group, sTNF-R1 showed a significant decrease (P < 0.001) during the same observation period of 15 months. During the 15-month observation period, the MRI-responders group had significant larger mean AUC (area under the concentration-time curve) values of sTNF-R1 (P = 0.04) and sTNF-R2 (P = 0.01) when compared to the group of MRInonresponders.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data suggest that IFN beta-1b induces the expression and shedding of TNF-R1 and TNF-R2. The magnitude of an increase of sTNF-Rs may be a marker for the effectiveness of treatment with IFN beta-1b.
Department of Neurology, Justus-Liebig Univ, Giessen, Germany.
C
C
Laske
P
P
Oschmann
J
J
Tofighi
S B
SB
Kuehne
H
H
Diehl
T
T
Bregenzer
J
J
Kraus
R
R
Bauer
N
N
Chatzimanolis
A
A
Kern
H
H
Traupe
M
M
Kaps
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000097:blood; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015703:Antigens, CD; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D016899:Interferon-beta