title: Effects of interferon-beta therapy on innate and adaptive immune responses to the human endogenous retroviruses HERV-H and HERV-W, cytokine production, and the lectin complement activation pathway in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The effects of treatment of multiple sclerosis patients with IFN-beta on elements in the innate and adaptive immune response were analysed in a longitudinal study. We demonstrate significant decreases in anti-Envelope antibody reactivity for the two closely related Gammaretroviral human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), HERV-H and HERV-W, as a consequence of IFN-beta therapy, closely linked to efficacy of therapy/low disease activity. We also show strong indications of a protective effect of high levels of two components in the innate pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognition: mannan-binding lectin (MBL), and MBL-associated serine protease 3 (MASP-3). Serum levels of typical Th1- and Th2-related, MS-relevant cytokines were also monitored. Overall both Th1- and Th2-associated cytokines were modestly, albeit significantly up-regulated, notably IL-2 and TNF-alpha (MS patients with inactive disease), as well as IL-4 and, to some extent IL-10 (no increase in IL-10 for MS patients with active disease (non-responders)). We found no overall changes in Th1/Th2 ratios. Our results support that HERV-H/HERV-W and the antiviral immune response may play a role in MS development, and that these HERVs have potential as biomarkers for disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Anné
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Møller-Larsen
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brudek
authors.forename: Troels Krarup
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Tove
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D037582:Complement Pathway, Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016899:Interferon-beta