title: Interferon-beta-1a treatment increases CD56bright natural killer cells and CD4+CD25+ Foxp3 expression in subjects with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Disease modifying effects of interferon (IFN)-beta therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be mediated in part through enhanced immunoregulation by the CD56(bright) subpopulation of natural killer (NK) cells and by Foxp3+ (not italicized) CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg). We found that IFN-beta-1a(IM) treatment of relapsing-remitting (RR)MS subjects over 12 months significantly increased both percentage of CD56(bright) NK cells and Foxp3 mRNA expression compared to baseline values, untreated RRMS subjects and healthy controls (HC). This striking enhancement of two prominent immunoregulatory pathways lends support to the idea that beneficial effects of IFN-beta-1a in MS include control of pernicious autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR, USA. vandenba@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Arthur A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vandenbark
authors.forename: Jianya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huan
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agotsch
authors.forename: Dorian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: La Tocha
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goelz
authors.forename: Halina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Offner
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanker
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bourdette
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019002:CD56 Antigen; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a