Interferon-beta in multiple sclerosis: altering the balance of interleukin-12 and interleukin-10?
Interferon-beta is a remarkably pleiotropic molecule. Antiviral, pro- and antiproliferative, pro- and antiapoptotic, and complex immunoregulatory activities have all been described. The precise mechanism(s) that underlie the beneficial effects of interferon-beta in multiple sclerosis remain poorly understood; this has hindered progress in the search for more effective therapies. An increasing body of literature supports the hypothesis that interferon-beta-mediated changes in the production and activities of the immunoregulatory cytokines interleukin-12 and interleukin-10 are important to the therapeutic benefits of interferon-beta in multiple sclerosis. These data are reviewed here.
Karp
C L
CL
Molecular Immunology Section, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. chris.karp@chmcc.org
van Boxel-Dezaire
A H
AH
Byrnes
A A
AA
Nagelkerken
L
L
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D016899:Interferon-beta