Abstract
The mechanisms by which type I interferons (IFN) reduce the rate and severity of exacerbations in multiple sclerosis are unknown. We utilized a model of multiple sclerosis to determine the extent of demyelination and remyelination in Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV)infected SJL/J mice treated with mouse IFN-α/β for a short (5 weeks) or a long (16 weeks) period. All mice were chronically infected with TMEV to simulate the clinical situation in multiple sclerosis. Short-term IFN-α/β treatment increased the percent of remyelinated spinal cord white matter by threefold when compared with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) treatment (P < 0.02), but it did not affect the extent of demyelination. In contrast, long-term IFN- α/β treatment increased the extent of demyelination by twofold (P < 0.03). Long-term treatment increased the absolute area of remyelination, but the percent remyelination as a function of area of demyelination was not changed because of increased demyelination. An immunomodulatory mechanism may have contributed to the effect of IFN-α/β on white matter pathology because treated mice had higher anti-TMEV IgGs in serum and demonstrated decreased numbers of B and T lymphocytes infiltrating the central nervous system (CNS). There was no correlation between the level of anti- IFN-α/β antibodies and the extent of demyelination or remyelination. These results indicate that the length of type I IFN treatment may have paradoxical effects on demyelination and remyelination. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 661-670 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroscience Research |
Volume | 59 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2000 |
Keywords
- Antibodies
- B-lymphocytes
- Central nervous system
- T-lymphocytes
- Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience