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NEUROLOGY 1995;45:S50-S53
© 1995 American Academy of Neurology

Interferons in multiple sclerosis

Warnings from experiences

Alfons Billiau, MD, PhD

From the Rega Institute, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. A. Billiau, Rega Institute, University of Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.

Administering or neutralizing a single cytokine is currently considered to represent a promising approach to therapeutic intervention in the immune network in autoimmune diseases.In this article, evidence from animal model experiments is reviewed: intervention in such models can have results opposite to those in the clinical disease; and intended neutralization of a cytokine by the administration of anticytokine antibodies can enhance as well as block in vivo cytokine activity. In experimental autoimmune encephalitis in mice, a model system for multiple sclerosis, administration of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) was found to reduce disease severity and, concordantly, administration of anti-IFN-gamma antibodies was found to aggravate disease. These experimental data are, however, in sharp contrast to the reports on clinical trials, in which IFN-gamma administration was followed by disease relapses. Administration of a neutralizing anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) antibody to mice to block in vivo activity of IL-6 resulted in increased rather than decreased serum titers, an effect that was found to be due to formation of immune complexes whose elimination from the body is retarded.

NEUROLOGY 1995;45(Suppl 6): S50-S53






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