title: Is serum neopterin level a marker of responsiveness to interferon beta-1a therapy in multiple sclerosis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interferon beta (INFbeta) may induce the expression of several proteins, including neopterin, considered a biological marker of INFbeta activity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the serum neopterin concentration at the beginning of, and during, IFNbeta-1a therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (r-r MS) patients, and to look for a possible correlation between protein synthesis and the clinical course of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen r-r MS patients were treated with INFbeta-1a (i.m. 6 MIU/week) for 2 years. Blood samples for neopterin determinations were taken daily over a period of 1 week at the end of each 6 months of therapy, and tested for neutralizing antibodies (NABs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neopterin levels peaked 24-48 h post-injection and returned to baseline after 120 h. After 1 year of therapy, four patients dropped out of the study because of progression of the disease: in these subjects a significant decrement of neopterin was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neopterin baseline values were not found to decrease over the 2 years of therapy, and neopterin may be considered to be a useful marker of responsiveness to IFNbeta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Modena, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casoni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bedin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertolotto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faglioni
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015415:Biomarkers; D019798:Neopterin; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a