Interferon-beta1b treatment modulates cytokines in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
It is unknown whether the immunological effects of beta-interferon (IFN-beta) differ in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) when compared with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Therefore, we investigated the effects of IFN-beta1b treatment in PPMS on proliferation and cytokine pattern of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) serum level.


METHODS
Eighteen patients were treated with IFN-beta1b for 12 months in an open-label trial. Serum and PBMC were collected longitudinally.


RESULTS
Interleukin-10 serum levels increased (P = 0.02) during treatment. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha was increased in anti CD3 (OKT3) antibody stimulated PBMC during treatment (P = 0.04), whereas secretion of IL-10 was decreased in OKT3 (P = 0.04), but increased in concavalin A stimulated PBMC (P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Interleukin-10 serum levels rose in IFN-beta1b-treated patients as has been observed in RRMS. The changes in cytokine patterns secreted by T-lymphocytes of PPMS patients, however, differ from effects observed in RRMS supporting the hypothesis that PPMS differs in some immunological aspects from RRMS.
Dressel
A
A
Department of Neurology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Kolb
A K
AK
Elitok
E
E
Bitsch
A
A
Bogumil
T
T
Kitze
B
B
Tumani
H
H
Weber
F
F
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D016753:Interleukin-10; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta