Interferon beta-1a vs. glatiramer acetate: changes of innate immunity in a group of women with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune demyelinating disease that secondarily leads to the axonal loss and associated brain atrophy. Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) have previously been studied for their ability to affect specific immunity. This study investigates the effect of interferon beta-1a (INF) and glatiramer acetate (GA) administration on changes in innate immunity cell populations. Methods: Sixty Caucasian female patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis undergo blood sample testing for 15 blood parameters at baseline, 1M, 3M and 6M after treatment by GA or IFN (started as their first line DMD). Results: A statistically significant difference in the change after 6 months was found in the parameter monocytes (relative count) in the group of patients treated with IFN. The median increase was 27.8%. Changes in many of the other 15 parameters studied were 10-20%. Conclusion: Innate immunity has long been neglected in MS immunopathology. The findings of this study show that innate immunity cells, especially monocytes may contribute significantly to MS immunopathology.