INTERFERON-β 1A, AN IMMUNOMODULATOR IN RELAPSING REMITTING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS. THE EFFECT ON PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES
Smaranda Maier
Abstract
Interferon- was the first disease-modifying therapy used for recurrent-remissive multiple sclerosis, with an intricate mechanism of action. The objectives of the current study were identifying the cytokine profile in recurrent-remissive multiple sclerosis serum samples, both nave and after one year of Interferon-1a treatment, in order to study the mechanism of action. 37 recurrent-remissive multiple sclerosis patients and 37 healthy subjects were included. Serum levels of 15 cytokines were evaluated for the recurrent-remissive multiple sclerosis patients in the beginning of the study and after one year of treatment, respectively at the beginning for healthy subjects. The recurrent-remissive multiple sclerosis lot had at the beginning significantly higher levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-17F, IL-23, IL-31, sCD40L, TNF- and "cytokine signature" compared to healthy controls. Treatment with Interferon-1a significantly reduced the levels of IL-23, IL-31, sCD40L, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)- and cytokine signature. IL-21 and TNF- positively correlated with the activity of the disease (relapses, disability). The serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines are higher in nave recurrent-remissive multiple sclerosis patients compared to healthy controls. Treatment with Interferon- significantly decreases the inflammatory profile.