Interferon-beta fails to protect in a model of transient focal stroke.

Background And Purpose: Compelling evidence supporting the role of inflammation in the development of cerebral infarction has focused attention on the potential of antiinflammatory treatment strategies for stroke. Interferon (IFN)-beta, an immunomodulatory agent approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis, is being evaluated in a phase I clinical trial in acute ischemic stroke. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of wild-type rat IFN-beta and its pegylated counterpart (PEG-IFN-beta) in a model of focal ischemia and reperfusion.