title: Longitudinal interferon-β effects in multiple sclerosis: differential regulation of IL-10 and IL-17A, while no sustained effects on IFN-γ, IL-4 or IL-13.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies in experimental models and in vitro indicate lowering of IL-17/Th17 as an important mechanism of interferon-beta (IFN-β) treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this longitudinal study of MS patients (n=25), spontaneous and myelin antigen-induced secretion of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-10 (ELISPOT), mitogen stimulated secretion of IL-13 and IL-17A (ELISA) and circulating cytokine levels (Luminex) were recorded at inclusion and after 1.5, 3, 6 and 12months of IFN-β treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early changes were noted for IL-4, while after one year of treatment the only recorded significant effects were a decrease in secreted IL-17A levels and an increase in IL-10 secreting cells. While IL-17A levels tended to be higher in non-responders (n=8), the decrease in IL-17A levels seemed to be more pronounced in responders (n=17) showing significantly lower IL-17A levels after one year as compared with non-responders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN-β treatment seems to mainly affect IL-17/IL-10-associated pathways rather than the IFN-γ/IL-4 axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, S-58185 Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kvarnström
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ydrefors
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ekerfelt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vrethem
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ernerudh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000502:physiology*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000502:physiology*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000502:physiology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C578095:IL13 protein, human; C508717:IL17A protein, human; C508598:IL4 protein, human; D018793:Interleukin-13; D020381:Interleukin-17; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma