Evaluation of serum levels of chemokines during interferon-β treatment in multiple sclerosis patients: a 1-year, observational cohort study.

Background: The molecules that provide access to activated T cells in the CNS, including chemokines, have been considered to be a crucial step in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Aims: In this study, we investigated serial serum chemokine levels in patients with relapsing-remitting MS over 1 year and the association of these chemokine levels with treatment regimens, lesions on MRI and patients' characteristics.

Methods: Serum CXCL9, CXCL10, CCL2, CCL4 and CCL5 levels were evaluated using ELISA every 2 months for a year in 28 healthy controls and 28 MS patients during their treatment with interferon (IFN)-β.