Enhancement of chemokine expression by interferon beta therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Interferon beta has been approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). It is believed that immunomodulatory rather than antiviral activity of interferon beta is responsible for disease amelioration. The impact of interferon beta on the chemoattraction of immune cells has not been fully addressed.


OBJECTIVE
To address the influence of interferon beta on the expression of chemokines and their receptors in a standardized setting.


METHODS
The expression of 14 chemokines and 14 chemokine receptor genes was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction from fresh blood samples.


METHODS
Outpatient units in Germany. Patients Untreated and interferon beta-treated patients with MS who tested positive and negative for neutralizing antibodies (NABs) were recruited from August 24, 2006, through December 15, 2006, for the initial study and from March 12, 2007, through April 2, 2007, for the validation study.


METHODS
Gene expression and serum chemokine protein levels.


RESULTS
CCL1, CCL2, CCL7, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CCR1 gene expression was strongly upregulated in interferon beta-treated, NAB-negative MS patients. In contrast, gene expression in interferon beta-treated, NAB-positive MS patients did not differ from untreated control donor individuals. Antibody titers inversely correlated with chemokine and chemokine receptor gene expression. Accordingly, serum chemokine protein levels of interferon beta-treated, NAB-negative MS patients were significantly higher than in untreated or interferon beta-treated, NAB-positive MS patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrate that interferon beta strongly upregulates a set of chemokines and CCR1 in peripheral immune cells. The peripheral upregulation of these chemokines may reduce the chemoattraction of immune cells to the central nervous system and thus add to the therapeutic effects of interferon beta.
Cepok
Sabine
S
Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität, 81675 München, Germany.
Schreiber
Herbert
H
Hoffmann
Steve
S
Zhou
Dun
D
Neuhaus
Oliver
O
von Geldern
Gloria
G
Hochgesand
Sonja
S
Nessler
Stefan
S
Rothhammer
Veith
V
Lang
Michael
M
Hartung
Hans-Peter
HP
Hemmer
Bernhard
B
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018925:Chemokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010045:Outpatients; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054389:Receptors, CCR1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies; D018925:Chemokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D054389:Receptors, CCR1; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012313:RNA