title: Neutralizing and binding antibodies to IFN-beta: relative frequency in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients treated with different IFN-beta preparations.
abstract: The frequencies of anti-interferon-beta (IFN-beta) antibody development reported to date in patients treated with different IFN-beta preparations are not readily comparable mainly because of differences in underlying diseases and assay methods. Thus, the frequency of neutralizing antibody (NAb) and binding antibody (BAb) development was analyzed in a sample of sera derived from a homogeneous group of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients treated with different IFN-beta preparations. The frequency of developing NAb and BAb to IFN-beta varied according to the IFN-beta given. Specifically, the NAb seroconversion frequency was significantly higher in patients treated with Betaferon, Schering AG, Berlin, Germany (31.3%) than in patients treated with both preparations of recombinant IFN-beta 1a (Rebif, Serono, Geneva, Switzerland [7.4%] or Avonex, Biogen, Cambridge, MA [6.3%]). Analysis of BAb seroconversion frequency in the same patients revealed that different IFN-beta preparations may also have different capability to induce BAb development and that BAb are produced during IFN-beta therapy at a significantly higher rate than NAb. Our main conclusion is that different human IFN-beta preparations may possess different immunogenicities, leading to varying frequency of development of antibody to IFN-beta in RRMS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine-Virology Section, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scagnolari
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellomi
authors.forename: Ombretta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Turriziani
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bagnato
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tomassini
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lavolpe
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bruschi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meucci
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dicuonzo
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007106:Immune Sera; D016899:Interferon-beta