title: Inhibition of multiple-sclerosis-associated retrovirus as biomarker of interferon therapy.
abstract: The authors performed a longitudinal evaluation of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, during 1 year of therapy with interferon-beta (IFN-beta), by clinical examination and detection of presence in the blood and viral load of MS-associated retrovirus (MSRV), by MSRVenv-specific, fully quantitative, real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MSRV load in the blood was directly related to MS duration and fell below detection limits within 3 months of IFN therapy; one patient had strong progression, accompanied by total MSRV rescue. These findings suggest that evaluation of plasmatic MSRV could be considered the first prognostic marker for the individual patient, to monitor disease progression and therapy outcome.
authors.affiliation: Section of Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Center of Excellence for Biotechnology Development and Biodiversity Research, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mameli
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Astone
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellazzi
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poddighe
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fainardi
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Granieri
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dolei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers; D018450:Disease Progression; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D011379:Prognosis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a