Regulation by interferon β-1a of reactive oxygen metabolites production by lymphocytes and monocytes and serum sulfhydryls in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

The activation of lymphocytes and monocytes and the concentration of reduction equivalents in serum were studied in a cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients undergoing weekly treatment with 30μg intramuscular interferon β-1a for 2 years. The degree of activation of monocytes and lymphocytes and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was higher in MS patients than in healthy controls and decreased in the course of interferon β-1a treatment approaching control values. The concentration of reduced sulfhydryls in the serum of MS patients was lower than in healthy controls and the treatment with interferon β-1a (IFNβ-1a) raised the levels approaching the values of healthy controls.