title: Interferon beta-1a therapy enhances CD4+ regulatory T-cell function: an ex vivo and in vitro longitudinal study in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Interferon beta-1a (IFNâ-1a) has demonstrated efficacy in multiple sclerosis (MS), although its mechanism of action remains only partly understood. We evaluated the ex vivo and in vitro effects of IFNâ-1a (Rebif) on regulatory T-cell (T(Reg)) function in 22 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 16 healthy controls. T(Reg) function was significantly enhanced after 3 and 6 months of IFNbeta-1a therapy. Furthermore, there was a trend towards increasing proportions of total CD4(+)CD25(+) and CD4(+)CD25(+)GITR(+) T(Reg) after 6 months of IFNbeta-1a therapy when compared with baseline. In conclusion, IFNbeta-1a therapy enhances T(Reg) function, and this may be relevant in the inflammatory environment of MS lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University General Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Calle Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Andrés
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aristimuño
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Las Heras
authors.forename: M Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Martínez-Ginés
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartolomé
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giménez-Roldán
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández-Cruz
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Ramón
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D053450:Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D053450:Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C491405:TNFRSF18 protein, human; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a