title: During 3 years treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis with glatiramer acetate, specific antibodies switch from IgG1 to IgG4.
abstract: In this study we analyzed the humoral immune response to glatiramer acetate in 16 GA-treated primary progressive MS patients and 9 placebo patients from the PROMiSe study. We have demonstrated that all multiple sclerosis patients (n=16) continuously treated with GA for 3 years developed anti-GA antibodies that peaked at month 3 and remained elevated during the whole study. We have also demonstrated that initially GA-reactive antibodies of the IgG1 subclass predominate, peaking at month 9 of therapy, but after 9 months IgG1 decreases while anti-GA antibodies of the IgG4 subclass increase and remain high for the 3 years of follow-up. These results support a shift from Th1 to Th2 in the antibody response to glatiramer acetate treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, Room S-159, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2B5.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: Ebrima
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oger
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate