Is serum neopterin level a marker of responsiveness to interferon beta-1a therapy in multiple sclerosis?
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.
Casoni
F
F
Department of Neurology, University of Modena, Modena, Italy.
Merelli
E
E
Bedin
R
R
Sola
P
P
Bertolotto
A
A
Faglioni
P
P
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
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015415:Biomarkers; D019798:Neopterin; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a