Identifying Interferon-β Responders Among Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Prospective knowledge of who was most likely to benefit would be safer and less costly.

Interferon-β therapy improves the course of multiple sclerosis (MS) for many patients. However, it doesn't work for as many as 50% of patients, and it causes MS flares in some. A few markers help predict who will respond positively. Analysis of animals with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and humans with relapsing-remitting MS suggested two additional markers, basal interleukin (IL)-17 and basal interferon-β levels; they now have been evaluated by an international team.

T helper (T_H) 17 cells, which produce the cytokine IL-17, play a key role in autoimmune diseases such as MS (JW Gen Med Jun 12 2008). In a study of 26 MS patients, the team found that nonresponders to interferon-β therapy had higher mean basal blood levels of both I…

Reviewing Author

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardSerImmune Inc.; DxTerity

Grant / Research SupportNIH (1U54NS105542-01)

Editorial BoardsHarvard Health Letter; UpToDate

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardSerImmune Inc.; DxTerity

Grant / Research SupportNIH (1U54NS105542-01)

Editorial BoardsHarvard Health Letter; UpToDate