Interferon-β inhibits progression of relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

doi:10.1016/0165-5728(95)00160-3

Journal of Neuroimmunology

Volume 64, Issue 1, January 1996, Pages 91-100

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-5728(95)00160-3 Get rights and content

Abstract

The results of two phase III clinical trials have recently shown that interferon-beta (IFN/3) is effective in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Treatment with IFN/3 results in a significant decrease in the rate of clinical relapse and a marked delay in progression to disability compared to placebo-treated control patients. In the present study, we demonstrate similar therapeutic effects after treating (SWR X SJL) F, mice with IFN/3 at the onset of clinical signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a disease animal model widely used in MS studies. EAE was actively induced by immunization of (SWR × SJL) F₁ mice with the immunodominant encephalitogenic peptide 139–151 of myelin proteolipid protein (PLP). In blinded testing, mice treated with IFN/3 at EAE onset showed a delay in progression to clinical disability as determined by marked improvement with time in mean clinical score, significant delay in onset of relapse, and significant decrease in exacerbation frequency compared to placebo-treated control mice. The therapeutic effect of IFN/3 was accompanied by a significant inhibition of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTK) but not proliferation in response to the priming PLP 139–151. In addition, IFN/3 treatment resulted in an overall decrease in severity of both inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system. These results mimic in an autoimmune animal model the effectiveness of IFN/3 treatment observed in MS. Moreover, our study suggests that anti-viral properties of IFN/3 are not essential for producing therapeutic effects in autoimmune demyelinating disease, and that the efficacy of IFN/3 in the treatment of MS may be due to inhibition of autoreactivity.

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Research paperInterferon-β inhibits progression of relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Abstract

J. Neuroimmunol.

Virology

Immunol. Today

J. Neuroimmunol.

J. Neuroimmunol.

J. Neuroimmunol.

J. Neuroimmunol.

Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

J. Biol. Chem.

J. Biol. Chem.

J. Neuroimmunol.

J. Neuroimmunol.

Suppression of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by Interferon

Immunol. Commun.

Interferon in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE): effects of exogenous Interferon on the antigen-enhanced adoptive transfer of EAE

Int. Arch. Allergy Appl. Immun.

Inhibition of passive localized experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by interferon

Int. Arch. Allergy Appl. Immun.

Measles antibodies in multiple sclerosis

Pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis - the immune diathesis and the role of viruses

J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol.

Viral encephalitis and its pathology

Curr. Topics Pathol.

Interferons: pleiotropic cellular modulators

Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol.

Biologic response modifier-induced indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase activity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures

J. Immunol.

Enhancement of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase activity in cancer patients receiving interferon-beta ser

J. Interferon Res.

Multiple sclerosis

Ann. Intern. Med.

Research paper
Interferon-β inhibits progression of relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis