Anticytokine antibodies in beta interferon-treated MS patients and the need for testing: Plight of the practicing neurologist
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments
![Loading Loading](https://n.neurology.org/sites/all/modules/contrib/panels_ajax_tab/images/loading.gif)
This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
The recently reported decrease in beta interferon (IFNβ) efficacy induced by anti-IFNβ antibodies1 has prompted Berlex Laboratories (Richmond, CA), the maker of Betaseron, to offer to physicians and their patients testing for anti-IFNβ antibodies. Unfortunately the test being offered is an in-house, newly developed, unverified assay2 not available to other laboratories. The measurement of anti-IFNβ antibodies is not well established nor widely available, and neurologists are therefore caught in a very difficult situation. Those caring for MS patients on IFNβ need to know (for patients obviously not doing well on therapy) whether patients may be failing because the patient's antibody response to the drug has interfered with the bioavailability of the agent. Neurologists will find it difficult to obtain and interpret Berlex's new assay for their patients, but there is no alternative assay. An understanding of this complex problem requires some knowledge of (1) the biology of IFNβ, (2) antibody-binding antibody assays, and (3) the effects of antibodies on IFN bioavailability.
Biology of IFNβ. Beta interferon is a member of the IFN family of cytokines. Alpha and gamma IFN are also in the IFN family. All three members have immunoregulatory, antiviral, antitumor, and cell growth regulatory functions. Two recombinant products available for MS, IFNβ-1b-Betaseron (Berlex) and IFNβ-1a-Avonex (Biogen), are structurally almost identical. Their amino acid sequences differ from each other by only one amino acid out of a total of 161, and IFNβ-1a is glycosylated at residue 80. The mechanism of action of IFNβ in MS is unknown. It seems most likely that the effect of IFNβ in MS is due to its immunomodulatory effects rather than to antiviral effects, although this has not been proved.
In MS patients being treated with IFN, the molecule exerts its effects presumably by binding to receptors on target cells.3 The …
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
For assistance, please contact:
AAN Members (800) 879-1960 or (612) 928-6000 (International)
Non-AAN Member subscribers (800) 638-3030 or (301) 223-2300 option 3, select 1 (international)
Sign Up
Information on how to subscribe to Neurology and Neurology: Clinical Practice can be found here
Purchase
Individual access to articles is available through the Add to Cart option on the article page. Access for 1 day (from the computer you are currently using) is US$ 39.00. Pay-per-view content is for the use of the payee only, and content may not be further distributed by print or electronic means. The payee may view, download, and/or print the article for his/her personal, scholarly, research, and educational use. Distributing copies (electronic or otherwise) of the article is not allowed.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Dr. Fabricio Ferreira de Oliveira and Dr. Alan Cronemberger Andrade
► Watch
Related Articles
- No related articles found.
Alert Me
Recommended articles
-
Introduction
Anti-IFNβ antibodies in IFNβ-treated MS patientsSummaryAndrew R. Pachner et al.Neurology, November 10, 2003 -
Articles
Neutralizing antibodies to interferon β-1a and interferon β-1b in MS patients are cross-reactiveOmar A. Khan, Suhayl S. Dhib-Jalbut et al.Neurology, December 01, 1998 -
Brief Communications
An improved ELISA for screening for neutralizing anti-IFN-β antibodies in MS patientsAndrew R. Pachner et al.Neurology, November 24, 2003 -
Articles
Neutralizing antibodies to interferonAvertano Noronha et al.Neurology, June 11, 2007