Cytokine changes during interferon-beta therapy in multiple sclerosis: correlations with interferon dose and MRI response.

Abstract We investigated serum (IL-10 and IL-12p70) and cellular cytokine levels (IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IFN-γ) in stimulated PBMC over 24 weeks in 15 relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients randomized to receive once-weekly (qw) IFN-β-1a 30 μg intramuscularly (IM) ( n  = 8) or three-times-weekly (tiw) IFN-β-1a 44 μg subcutaneously (SC) ( n  = 7). Overall, IFN-β treatment increased cellular IL-10 ( p p p p p p  = 0.031) and a decrease in cellular IL-12p70 ( p p  = 0.013). This is the first study that compares cytokine changes between the two IFN-β regimes and demonstrates that serum IL-10 levels decrease in those patients who continue to have active MRI lesions while on interferon-beta therapy.