Open AccessExcessive Biologic Response to IFNβ Is Associated with Poor Treatment Response in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Author(s) -
Richard A. Rudick,
M.R. Sandhya Rani,
Yaomin Xu,
Jar Chi Lee,
Jie Na,
Jennifer Shrock,
Anupama Josyula,
Elizabeth Fisher,
Richard M. Ransohoff
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0019262
Subject(s) - biological response modifiers , multiple sclerosis , functional response , immunology , interferon , immune system , biology , antibody response , placebo response , inflammatory response , medicine , inflammation , pathology , paleontology , alternative medicine , predation , placebo , predator
Background Interferon-beta (IFNβ) is used to inhibit disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS), but its mechanisms of action are incompletely understood, individual treatment response varies, and biological markers predicting response to treatment have yet to be identified. Methods T he relationship between the molecular response to IFNβ and treatment response was determined in 85 patients using a longitudinal design in which treatment effect was categorized by brain magnetic resonance imaging as good (n = 70) or poor response (n = 15). Molecular response was quantified using a customized cDNA macroarray assay for 166 IFN-regulated genes (IRGs). Results The molecular response to IFNβ differed significantly between patients in the pattern and number of regulated genes. The molecular response was strikingly stable for individuals for as long as 24 months, however, suggesting an individual ‘IFN response fingerprint’. Unexpectedly, patients with poor response showed an exaggerated molecular response. IRG induction ratios demonstrated an exaggerated molecular response at both the first and 6-month IFNβ injections. Conclusion MS patients exhibit individually unique but temporally stable biological responses to IFNβ. Poor treatment response is not explained by the duration of biological effects or the specific genes induced. Rather, individuals with poor treatment response have a generally exaggerated biological response to type 1 IFN injections. We hypothesize that the molecular response to type I IFN identifies a pathogenetically distinct subset of MS patients whose disease is driven in part by innate immunity. The findings suggest a strategy for biologically based, rational use of IFNβ for individual MS patients.