title: Opposite effects of interferon-β on new B and T cell release from production sites in multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: The release of newly produced B and T lymphocytes from the production sites was analyzed in 30 multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon-beta by measuring T-cell receptor excision circles and k-deleting recombination excision circles. We found that the therapy induces opposite effects on B- and T-cell mobilization in 33% of patients. New B-cell production, which peaks after 6 months of therapy and then decreases to levels that, however, are still higher than in controls, may cause a renewal of the B-cell compartment. On the contrary, the decreased number of newly produced T lymphocytes observed at 12 months of treatment and the association between reduced thymic output and low peripheral T lymphocytes can be a cause of leukopenia, a frequent side effect of the therapy.
authors.affiliation: Spedali Civili di Brescia, Diagnostics Department, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanotti
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiarini
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serana
authors.forename: Ruggero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capra
authors.forename: Mariarosa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rottoli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rovaris
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavaletti
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clerici
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezzonico
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caimi
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Imberti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016899:Interferon-beta