title: Interleukin 17F level and interferon β response in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High serum levels of interleukin 17F (IL-17F) at baseline have been associated with suboptimal response to interferon beta in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To further investigate the role of IL-17F in predicting treatment response to interferon beta-1b in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis using the Singulex Erenna IL-17F immunoassay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were analyzed from 239 randomly selected patients treated with interferon beta-1b, 250 μg, for at least 2 years in the Betaferon Efficacy Yielding Outcomes of a New Dose Study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment with interferon beta-1b, 250 μg, for at least 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of IL-17F at baseline and month 6 as well as the difference between the IL-17F levels at month 6 and baseline were compared between the following: (1) patients with less disease activity vs more disease activity; (2) patients with no disease activity vs some disease activity; and (3) responders vs nonresponders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of IL-17F measured at baseline and month 6 did not correlate with lack of response to treatment after 2 years using clinical and magnetic resonance imaging criteria. Relapses and new lesions on magnetic resonance imaging were not associated with pretreatment serum IL-17F levels. When patients with neutralizing antibodies were excluded, the results did not change. All patients with levels of IL-17F greater than 200 pg/mL were associated with poor response with some clinical or radiological activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increase of IL-17F before and early after treatment with interferon beta-1b was not associated with poor response. These data do not support the value of IL-17F as a treatment response indicator for therapy of patients with multiple sclerosis with interferon beta, although high levels of IL-17F greater than 200 pg/mL may predict nonresponsiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany. hans-peter.hartung@uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Goodin
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comi
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Axtell
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Knappertz
authors.forename: Timon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bogumil
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwenke
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Croze
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sandbrink
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pohl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta