Beta-Interferon and Multiple Sclerosis

[NDWB]

Hi everybody! I am new and jumping right in...

 

So, the Beta- Interferon is said to activate Natural Killer cells (among other things), which are CD8 T-cells...

 

And at the progressive stage of Multiple Sclerosis, CD8 cells get activated later in the pathogenesis and kill the very Oligodendrocytes which try with all their might to remyelinate the axons...

 

Why then do MS patients get prescribed the very Interferon that will activate the destruction process even further?

 

What am I missing?

 

TIA!

 

 

 

[iNow]

I'm not an expert on this, and my hope is that another member will follow-up with more details. However, my sense is that you are oversimplifying the process a bit, and that's the source of your confusion. My understanding is that there are other aspects of the treatment which are overall good for the person dealing with MS. There are both good and bad parts of the treatment, and IINM there is more good than harm done overall.

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726074/?tool=pmcentrez

 

The mechanisms of action of IFNβ are not yet finally understood, but there is agreement that the major effects are:

 

• 
   
  
• inhibition of T lymphocyte proliferation and decrease of IFN-γ production;[10]
  
• inhibition of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) expression, with reduced antigen presentation within central nervous system (CNS);[11]
  
• inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production and cell-associated adhesion molecule expression;[12–14]
  
• induction of anti-inflammatory and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines;[15–17]
  
• induction of CD8 regulatory cell function and inhibition of monocyte activation.[18]
  

 

 

It reminds me slightly of chemotherapy for cancer. The net good is ultimately worth any localized harm, even though it can sometimes be severe.

[NDWB]

I like your answer iNow. "Net good over weighs net bad" is a good way to look at it. Thank you!

 

 

 

[iNow]

Glad it helped you. Good luck.