Treatment with interferon-β does not induce anti-nuclear and anti-neuronal serum autoantibodies in multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Type I interferons (IFNs) are known to enhance humoral immunity. Here, we investigated the prevalence and titer of anti-nuclear and anti-neuronal IgG autoantibodies in 71 relapsing-remitting MS patients classified based on their clinical response to IFNβ in paired sera obtained at baseline and after 12months of treatment. All samples were negative for antibodies against cytoplasmic rods/rings, synaptic proteins and paraneoplastic antibodies. Regarding anti-nuclear, anti-filament and anti-myelin antibodies, pre- and post-treatment prevalence and titers did not differ significantly between IFNβ responders and non-responders. Thus, pattern of anti-nuclear and anti-neuronal autoantibodies does not predict the response to IFNβ in MS patients.