title: Interferon gamma and interleukin 4 producing T cells in peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients undergoing immunomodulatory treatment.
abstract: Intracellular cytokine flow cytometry was used to analyse the percentages of interferon (IFN) gamma and interleukin (IL)-4 producing T cells in the peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients, before and after immunomodulatory treatment, and of healthy controls. After six months of treatment, different doses of IFN beta1a (Avonex or Rebif) decreased CD4+ (Th1, Th2) and CD8+ (Tc1) cells to a similar extent, without affecting the Th1/Th2 ratio. These T cell subsets were unmodified after nine months of glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) treatment, and after six day courses of high dose 6-methylprednisolone. The data suggest that IFN beta1a produces sustained downmodulation of IFN gamma and IL-4 producing T cells in vivo, which may contribute to its therapeutic efficacy; that glatiramer acetate possibly acts without altering non-specific cellular immunity; and that glucocorticoid induced lymphocytopenia does not affect the percentages of Th1, Th2, and Tc1 cells; at least in the periphery, none of the treatments caused a Th1 to Th2 shift that could account for their respective therapeutic effects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Foundation Neurological Institute C Mondino, University of Pavia, Via Palestro 3, I-27100 Pavia, Italy. diego.franciotta@mondino.it
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franciotta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zardini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergamaschi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andreoni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cosi
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012016:Reference Values; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D010455:Peptides; D015847:Interleukin-4; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008775:Methylprednisolone; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a