Interferon-beta-1b increases serum interleukin-12 p40 levels in primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients.
Serum levels of interleukin-12 heterodimer (IL-12p70) and its homodimeric subunit (IL-12p40) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 18 patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) during 3 months before and 3 months under treatment with interferon-beta-1b (IFNbeta-1b, Betaferon(), eight million units (MIU) every other day subcutaneously). Median IL-12p40 levels in MS patients before treatment (66.5 and 63.9 pg/ml) were not elevated compared to 18 healthy controls. IL-12p40 significantly increased during treatment (P<0.0001, median 105.3 pg/ml after 1 month and 95.3 pg/ml after 3 months). Detectable serum levels of IL-12p70 before therapy were only found in one patient. IL-12p70 did not increase during treatment. These data show that immunological processes may also play a role in primary progressive MS and that IFNbeta-1b has an immunomodulating effect in this particular MS subtype.
Bahner
Dirk
D
Department of Neurology, Hospital of Fulda, Pacelliallee 4, D-36043 Fulda, Germany. dbahner@t-online.de
Klucke
Christine
C
Kitze
Bernd
B
Elitok
Ercan
E
Bogumil
Timon
T
Dressel
Alexander
A
Tumani
Hayrettin
H
Weber
Frank
F
Poser
Sigrid
S
Bitsch
Andreas
A
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood*; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012016:Reference Values
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D021122:Protein Subunits; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D018664:Interleukin-12; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a