The impact of interferon-beta treatment on the blood-brain barrier.
Changes in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are crucial to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). There are currently few established treatments for MS, and interferon-beta (IFN-beta) therapy is one of the most promising - proposed to act as an immunomodulator of the cytokine network reducing inflammatory damage. However, there is increasing evidence that direct effects on the BBB could also be relevant. This review surveys the evidence that IFN-beta stabilizes the BBB, and that this process itself might be the key target. Understanding IFN-beta-derived changes at the BBB will not only provide new insights in the pathogenesis of MS but will also be helpful to develop new, more-specific drugs for MS treatment.
Kraus
Jörg
J
Paracelsus Private Medical University and Salzburger Landesklinken, Christian-Doppler-Klinik, Department of Neurology, Ignaz-Harrer-Strasse 79, 5020 Salzburg, Austria. joerg.kraus@salk.at
Oschmann
Patrick
P
D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008954:Models, Biological; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins