Title:Characterization of Regulatory T-Cells in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Interferon Beta-1a
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Author(s): Mohsen Ebrahimimonfared, Ali Ganji, Sara Zahedi, Parisa Nourbakhsh, Keyvan Ghasami and Ghasem Mosayebi*
Affiliation:
- Molecular and Medicine Research Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak,Iran
Keywords:
Interferon beta-1a, multiple sclerosis, regulatory T-cells, myelin, sheath, CNS, Treg cells.
Abstract: Background: Regulatory T-Cells (Treg Cells), as one of the immune system components,
have been highly effective in the autoimmune diseases prevention, particularly multiple sclerosis
(MS). Cytokine-based therapies such as interferon beta-1a (IFN-β1a) is a common drug in MS treatment;
however, its exact mechanisms are insufficiently described.
Objective: Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the in vivo impact of IFN-β1a on the Treg
Cells in MS.
Methods: In this case-control study, Treg Cells were analysed by flowcytometry in IFN-β1a-treated
relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) in comparison with new cases of MS and healthy subjects.
Results: The frequency of Treg Cells in the IFN-β1a treated-RRMS was increased compared to the
new MS cases (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the MFIs of the CD4 and CD25 in T-Cells were significantly
reduced in new cases of MS and IFN-β1a-treated RRMS than the control subjects (P < 0.05). Additionally,
the FoxP3 MFIs in CD4 + CD25 + T-Cells of IFN-β1a-treated RRMS were significantly
lower than the new cases of MS.
Conclusion: Overall, the present study indicated that IFN-β1a as an immunomodulatory drug led to an
enhancement in Treg Cells population without CD4, CD25, and FoxP3 molecules upregulation in Treg
Cells.
