title: Increased blood plasma concentrations of TGF-beta isoforms after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (i.v.IG) in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: To assess whether TGF-beta isoforms are significantly increased after intravenous immunoglobulin (i.v.IG) infusion in the plasma of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 19 patients with clinically definite MS were enrolled in a double blind placebo controlled i.v.IG study. TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3 plasma concentrations were measured prior and directly after i.v.IG infusions by specific ELISA. Compared to the placebo group, we found a significant increase in the plasma levels of all three TGF-beta isoforms in patients treated with i.v.IG. The significantly increased TGF-beta plasma concentrations in treated patients suggest an additional, immediate mechanism of action that may accompany the molecular effects of i.v.IG therapy in MS. The variable amount of the potent anti-inflammatory TGF-beta isoforms within the i.v.IG preparations may exert a differentiated view regarding the manifold indications of i.v.IG therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Leipziger Strasse 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany. dirk.reinhold@medizin.uin-magdeburg.de
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reinhold
authors.forename: Evgeniy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perlov
authors.forename: Kirstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schrecke
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kekow
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brune
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sailer
mesh_terms: D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta