Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-7-17
pubmed:abstractText
Viral infections are potentially associated with the etiology and pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been speculated that the treatment efficacy of interferon beta (IFN beta) in MS may relate to its anti-viral properties. The study was undertaken to evaluate the in vivo anti-viral effects of IFN beta-1a in patients with MS. Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) was studied as an example for being a latent neurotropic virus. IFN beta used at concentrations of approximately 0.5 microg/ml was shown to significantly reduce in vitro HHV-6 replication in a susceptible T-cell line. Sera derived from 23 MS patients treated with IFN beta-1a were examined for serum cell-free DNA of HHV-6 as an indicator for viral replication and the reactivity of IgM antibodies to a recombinant HHV-6 virion protein containing a known immunoreactive region. The results were compared with those of control sera obtained from untreated MS (n=29) and healthy individuals (n=21). The findings indicated that IFN beta treatment significantly reduced HHV-6 replication as evident by decreased cell-free DNA in treated MS specimens. The results correlated with decreased IgM reactivity to the HHV-6 antigen in treated MS patients compared to untreated controls, suggesting reduced exposure to HHV-6. The findings were confirmed in paired sera obtained from seven MS patients before and after the treatment The study provides new evidence indicating that IFN beta has potent in vivo anti-viral effects that may contribute to the treatment efficacy in MS.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
1352-4585
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
8
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
237-42
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
Anti-viral properties of interferon beta treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Neurology and Baylor-Methodist Multiple Sclerosis Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't