Differing immunogenic potentials of interferon beta preparations in multiple sclerosis patients

Mult Scler. 2006 Dec;12(6):731-7. doi: 10.1177/1352458506070941.

Abstract

Interferon beta (IFNbeta) is a first-line therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, some patients experience a decline in efficacy with continued therapy due to the development of anti-IFNbeta neutralizing antibodies (NAb). We investigated the frequency of NAb cross-sectionally in 846 MS patients who were receiving IFNbeta-1b, IFNbeta-1a im, or IFNbeta-1a sc. The frequency of NAb in patients receiving IFNbeta-1a im was lower (5%) than in patients treated with any other form of IFNbeta (22-35%) (P < 0.0001). Binding antibodies (BAb) were measured in 808 patients. The frequency differed significantly between treatment groups, ranging from 45% (IFNbeta-1a im) to 88% (IFNbeta-1b). The proportion of NAb-positive patients within the BAb-positive group differed significantly among treatment groups, ranging between 12% (IFNbeta-1a im) and 51% (IFNbeta-1a sc). The median NAb titer from all IFNbeta-1a-treated patients was higher than from IFNbeta-1b-treated patients (446 versus 171 NU/ mL, P = 0.04). Among NAb-positive patients, the frequency of NAb titers > 100 NU/mL was 71% for IFNbeta-1a compared with 58% for IFNbeta-1b (P = 0.04). Except for conflicting data regarding IFNbeta-1a sc, the results are generally consistent with the literature and together with the differing proportion of NAb-positive patients within the BAb-positive group, provide further insight into the immunogenicity of the IFNbeta preparations.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies / blood
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus / immunology
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Interferon beta-1a
  • Interferon beta-1b
  • Interferon-beta / administration & dosage*
  • Interferon-beta / immunology*
  • Lung Neoplasms
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / epidemiology
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / immunology*
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies
  • Interferon beta-1b
  • Interferon-beta
  • Interferon beta-1a