Neurosci Lett 2002 Jun 28;326(2):125-8
Bahner D, Klucke C, Kitze B, Elitok E, Bogumil T, Dressel A, Tumani
H, Weber F, Poser S, Bitsch A.
Department of Neurology, Hospital of Fulda, Pacelliallee 4, D-36043,
Fulda, Germany
Serum levels of interleukin-12 heterodimer (IL-12p70) and its homodimeric subunit (IL-12p40) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 18 patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) during 3 months before and 3 months under treatment with interferon-beta-1b (IFNbeta-1b, Betaferon(), eight million units (MIU) every other day subcutaneously).
Median IL-12p40 levels in MS patients before treatment (66.5 and 63.9 pg/ml) were not elevated compared to 18 healthy controls.
IL-12p40 significantly increased during treatment (P<0.0001, median 105.3 pg/ml after 1 month and 95.3 pg/ml after 3 months).
Detectable serum levels of IL-12p70 before therapy were only found in one patient.
IL-12p70 did not increase during treatment.
These data show that immunological processes may also play a role in primary progressive MS and that IFNbeta-1b has an immunomodulating effect in this particular MS subtype.