Dose and Frequency of Administration of Interferon-beta Affect its Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis.

Data reviewed in this article demonstrate that both interferon-beta-1a (IFNbeta-1a) and interferon-beta-1b (IFNbeta-1b) show a dose-response relationship in multiple sclerosis at current clinical doses. Moreover, the efficacy of these therapies is probably dependent on their frequent administration to maintain optimal levels of biological effect. These results differ from the conclusions of a recent review of data comparing two doses of IFNbeta-1a, given intramuscularly once weekly, that showed no difference in efficacy between the two doses.

Evidence for cytokine dysregulation in multiple sclerosis: peripheral blood mononuclear cell production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines during relapse and remission.

We investigated circulating anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and their ex vivo PBMC production in the absence or presence of the neuroantigens myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and T cell mitogen (PHA) in MS patients in relapse and remission, patients with other neurological disorders (OND) and normal healthy controls. MS patients in relapse exhibited significantly increased PBMC production of TNF-alpha spontaneously compared with MS remission and healthy controls and with MBP compared with MS remission. Patients in relapse had significantly increased spontaneous, PHA- and MBP-induced PBMC IL-1beta production compared with remission MS, and was increased compared (PHA only) with OND and healthy controls.