title: Biological monitoring of IFN-β therapy in Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a heterogeneous disease and a variable percentage of patients are non-responders to common treatment. Early diagnosis of non-responders allows change to a more useful therapy for the patient and better allocates a large amount of financial resources. Quantification of Neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) and of biological activity of IFN-β are recognized approaches to identify immuno-pharmacological non-responders. A consistent number of studies have demonstrated that quantification of Myxovirus-induced protein A (MxA) is a valid biomarker to detect immune-pharmacological non responders after one year of treatment. Persistent high titre of Nabs and absence of biological activity predict abolition of IFN-β effects in disease activity measured through MRI, number of relapses and disability. Guidelines and flow-charts including both Nabs and MxA quantification are presented.
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy. Electronic address: antonio.bertolotto@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertolotto
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Granieri
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marnetto
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capobianco
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malucchi
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Sapio
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malentacchi
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.affiliation: Neurologia 2 - CRESM (Centro Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla), AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caldano
mesh_terms: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D015415:Biomarkers; C579071:MX1 protein, human; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016899:Interferon-beta
keywords: Biological activity; Interferon-β; Multiple Sclerosis; MxA; Nabs