The Effect of IFN-β Treatment on Plasma Levels of BDNF and IL-6 in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> In recent investigations addressing neurodegenerative diseases, especially multiple sclerosis (MS), the roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been examined. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Forty-five relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients, including 32 IFN-β-treated and 13 newly identified untreated cases as well as 45 sex- and age-matched healthy controls, were recruited in the study. Plasma levels of BDNF and IL-6 were assessed using the ELISA method. Data were analyzed by SPSS (ver.21). <b><i>Results:</i></b> There were significant differences between the case and healthy control groups in terms of the plasma levels of BDNF (<i>p</i> value = 0.044) and IL-6 (<i>p</i> value &#x3c;0.001). Besides, the treatment with IFN-β had no significant impact on the level of BDNF or IL-6 in RRMS patients as compared to healthy controls (<i>p</i> value = 0.716 and 0.623 for BDNF and IL-6, respectively). Furthermore, the increase in the plasma levels of BDNF and IL-6 indicated a direct correlation in the case group (<i>r</i> = 0.508, <i>p</i> value = 0.008). In detail, following the classification of the case group into 2 subgroups of IFN-β-treated and untreated patients, a direct positive correlation was observed between the plasma levels of BDNF and IL-6 in IFN-β-treated patients (<i>r</i> = 0.495, <i>p</i> value = 0.026). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The IFN-β treatment seems not to be effective for upregulating BDNF and IL-6 in RRMS patients.