title: Glatiramer acetate treatment effects on gene expression in monocytes of multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glatiramer acetate (GA) is a mixture of synthetic peptides used in the treatment of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GA therapy on the gene expression of monocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monocytes were isolated from the peripheral blood of eight RRMS patients. The blood was obtained longitudinally before the start of GA therapy as well as after one day, one week, one month and two months. Gene expression was measured at the mRNA level by microarrays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 400 genes were identified as up-regulated or down-regulated in the course of therapy, and we analyzed their biological functions and regulatory interactions. Many of those genes are known to regulate lymphocyte activation and proliferation, but only a subset of genes was repeatedly differentially expressed at different time points during treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the observed gene regulatory effects of GA on monocytes were modest and not stable over time. However, our study revealed several genes that are worthy of investigation in future studies on the molecular mechanisms of GA therapy.
authors.forename: Madhan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thamilarasan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, University of Rostock, Schillingallee 68, Rostock 18057, Germany. michael.hecker@rocketmail.com.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hecker
authors.forename: Robert Hermann
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Goertsches
authors.forename: Brigitte Katrin
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Paap
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koczan
authors.forename: Hans-Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Thiesen
authors.forename: Uwe Klaus
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Zettl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002469:Cell Separation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate