Immune regulation by interferon-beta in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Interferon (IFN)-β is a commonly used therapy for patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Although IFN-β has been shown to exert various immunomodulatory effects, the therapeutic mechanisms are still poorly understood. Furthermore, a high percentage of patients fail to respond to therapy and while in some cases treatment failure can be attributed to the development of neutralising antibodies (NAB) to IFN-β, there is still no valid explanation as to why a large subgroup of patients fail to respond to IFN-β.