title: Baseline T cell reactivity in multiple sclerosis is correlated to efficacy of interferon-beta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Measuring proliferative responses of T lymphocytes is a simple, reproducible and widely used assay of immune competence. Evidence suggests a role of T cell reactivity in autoimmune diseases. Interferon (IFN)-beta blocks in vitro proliferation of human T cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess (i) the relation between T cell proliferation and disease characteristics of MS patients, (ii) differences in T cell proliferation between subgroups and HC, and (iii) the predictive value of T cell proliferation for efficacy of IFN-beta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proliferative responses were measured in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), anti-CD2/CD28 and anti-CD3 stimulated whole blood of 189 MS patients and 249 healthy controls (HC). Forty-eight patients started treatment with IFN-beta. Based on EDSS progression, number of relapses and steroid interventions, patients were classified as either clinical responder or nonresponder to IFN-beta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences between MS subgroups and HC were found in T cell responses upon both PHA stimulation (RR>HC: p=0.001 and SP>HC: p=0.001) and CD2/CD28 stimulation (RR>HC, SP>HC and PP>HC: all p values <0.001). No significant differences were found between the MS subgroups. A probability of 88% (95% CI, 71-95%) for a favorable response to IFN-beta was found with increased baseline proliferative T cell responses to PHA; a probability of only 16% (95% CI, 7-33%) with decreased values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the level of T cell proliferation in whole blood predicts efficacy of IFN-beta in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, VU Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. J.Killestein@vumc.nl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Killestein
authors.forename: R Q
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Hintzen
authors.forename: B M J
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Uitdehaag
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Baars
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: R A W
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: van Lier
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Polman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016899:Interferon-beta