No induction of apoptosis by IFN-β in human antigen-specific T cells

Article abstract Interferon (IFN)-β, the most effective immunomodulatory treatment for MS, inhibits the proliferation of myelin-specific T cells. We report that IFN-β moderately enhances the expression of the death receptor, CD95, at the surface of human antigen-specific T cells. However, T-cell apoptosis was not induced by IFNβ-1a or IFNβ-1b as assessed by caspase activity or DNA fragmentation. Immunomodulation mediated by IFN-β does not directly involve apoptotic pathways in human T cells.