Clinical and Serological Biomarkers of Treatment’s Response in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated Continuously with Interferonβ-1b for More than a Decade

Title:Clinical and Serological Biomarkers of Treatment’s Response in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated Continuously with Interferonβ-1b for More than a Decade

Volume: 17 Issue: 10

Author(s): Laura Iulia Bărcuţean, Andreea Romaniuc*, Smaranda Maier, Zoltan Bajko, Anca Moţăţăianu, Huţanu Adina, Iunius Simu, Sebastian Andone and Rodica Bălaşa

Affiliation:

• First Department of Neurology, Emergency Clinical County Hospital, Targu Mures,Romania

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, inflammation, cytokines, interferon β-1b, relapses, evolution, disability.

Abstract: Introduction: We evaluated the peripheral immune panel of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients treated for more than 10 years with interferon-beta1b (IFNβ-1b) and aimed to identify possible biomarkers of treatment response.

Material and Methods: Serum samples from 70 MS patients treated with IFNβ-1b more than a decade were analysed for 15 cytokines, that were correlated with the disability score, annual relapse ratio (ARR): the total number of relapses-ARR_0, relapse on treatment-ARR_1 and demographic data. Two groups were defined based on the levels of disability, calculated using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): G1 – recurrent-remissive and G2 – secondary-progressive. Furthermore, we split the patients based on gender (G1_f, G1_m, G2_f, G2_m).

Results: The ARR was reduced after treatment was instituted. We found positive correlations between IL_25 and EDSS in G1_f and G2_f, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and ARR_1 and ARR_0 in G1, and IL_17F with ARR_1. Negative correlations were for IL_25 and ARR_0 and ARR_1. SCD40L intensely positively correlated with IL_31 in G1 and G2.

Conclusion: After more than a decade of treatment, IFNβ-1b offers good results by reducing relapses and slowing disability progression. Several biomarkers can be used to assess the patient’s response. High levels of IL_17 and TNFα will indicate a more active form of the disease. IL-25 may exert a positive influence in male MS patients and should be considered for future studies, together with the co-modulation between sCD40L and IL_31. Our method allowed us to screen the peripheral immune panel and can be used for assessing the peripheral levels of the above-mentioned cytokines.

Cite this article as:

Bărcuţean Iulia Laura, Romaniuc Andreea*, Maier Smaranda, Bajko Zoltan, Moţăţăianu Anca, Adina Huţanu , Simu Iunius, Andone Sebastian and Bălaşa Rodica, Clinical and Serological Biomarkers of Treatment’s Response in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated Continuously with Interferonβ-1b for More than a Decade, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2018; 17 (10) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527317666180917095256