Pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine mRNA blood level in multiple sclerosis is related to treatment response and interferon-beta dose

Of 37 multiple sclerosis patients, 19 suboptimal responders were randomized to 375 (n =12) or 250 mu g (n=7) interferon (IFN)-beta-1b. mRNA levels of 23 cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors were quantified by TaqMan (R) low-density array (TLDA) real-time polymerase chain reaction. Better treatment responses or increased IFN-beta doses were associated with elevated IL-10 and TGF-beta and decreased CXCL10, IL-18, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha transcript levels. Adjusting for dose, poor treatment responses resulted in a 4-fold increase in CXCL10 and IFN-gamma expression (Mantel-Haenszel RR =3.74, p<0.0001). CXCL10 and IFN-gamma mRNA levels were reliable indicators of treatment response. TLDA can be used to tailor IFN-beta-1b therapy. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.