title: Increased Serum Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Multiple Sclerosis Patients on Interferon-β and Its Impact on Functional Abilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the potential role of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) used to treat multiple sclerosis on inducing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 82 patients entered the study. Sixty (73%) patients were on DMTs (15 on Avonex, 13 on Rebif, 27 on Betaferon, 3 on Mitoxantrone, and 2 on IVIg), whereas 22 received no DMTs. The degree of neurological impairment was recorded using the expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Serum BDNF levels were assessed using the Sandwich ELISA method. We compared mean serum BDNF levels among patient groups based on whether or not they were on DMTs, and the specific agent used. Then, the relationship between BDNF levels and EDSS scores was assessed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate a cutoff value by which serum BDNF could predict the degree of disability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample had a mean age of 34.6 years, mean EDSS score of 3.8, and mean BDNF level of 198.9 pg/mL. Patients on interferon-β 1b therapy had significantly higher levels of BDNF compared with patients on Mitoxantrone or patients not on DMTs (237.6, 68.6, and 155.9, respectively; P=0.003). The degree of neurological impairment correlated negatively with BDNF levels (P<0.001). A cutoff value of 190 pg/mL was calculated for BDNF (ROC analysis, area under the curve: 0.729, P=0.002). At BDNF levels >190, the sensitivity for a milder degree of neurological impairment (EDSS<3) was 80%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed a significant effect of interferon-β 1b therapy on increasing BDNF production in multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Neurology, Firoozgar Hospital †Firoozgar Clinical Research Development Center ‡Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences §Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehrpour
authors.forename: Fahimeh H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Akhoundi
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delgosha
authors.forename: Hosein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keyvani
authors.forename: Mohammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Motamed
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sheibani
authors.forename: Alipasha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meysamie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012372:ROC Curve; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta