title: Effect of glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) on the immunophenotypic and cytokine profile and BDNF production in multiple sclerosis: a longitudinal study.
abstract: We assessed the effect of glatiramer acetate (GA) on the immunophenotypic and cytokine profile and the BDNF production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and their association with the clinical response in 19 naïve-treated MS patients prospectively followed-up after GA therapy. Two patients withdrew the therapy. After a median follow-up of 21 months, twelve were considered responders and five as non-responders. Non-responder patients had significant longer disease duration and a higher EDSS score at baseline. In the responder group, a significant decrease in the percentage of INF-gamma producing total lymphocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and reduced percentage of IL-2 producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were observed at 12, 18 and 24 months. These changes were associated with a significant increase in the percentage of CD3+, CD4+ and CD4(+) CD45RA(+) T cells, and BDNF production from month 6 that remained significant throughout the study. We did not observe significant changes in the nonresponder group for any of the parameters studied. Our data suggest that GA treatment induces a downmodulation of proinflammatory cytokines associated with the regulation of the peripheral T cell compartment and with increased production of BDNF that might be related to the clinical response.
authors.affiliation: Service of Neurology, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Moral
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez-Choco
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Torres-Peraza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alonso-Magdalena
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alberch
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jaraquemada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arbizu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Graus
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saiz
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016207:Cytokines; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate