Evaluation of interferon beta-1b therapy effects on the level and abnormal nature of immunoglobulin G in patients with multiple sclerosis

Aim: to study and evaluate the interferon beta-1b (INF) therapy efficiency on the level and abnormal nature of immunoglobulin G in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Materials and methods. This scientific work was performed at the Neurology Department and the Department of Histology, Cytology and Embryology of the Lviv National Medical University named after Danylo Halytsky and in the Lviv Regional Research Center for the Study of Multiple Sclerosis and Other Demyelinating Diseases on the basis of the Lviv Regional Clinical Hospital. The inclusion criteria for patients were age between 18 and 65 years as well as definite diagnosis of MS according to McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS (2010). 32 patients with MS and 23 practically healthy persons were enrolled in the study. After a written informed consent obtaining from the patient there was a peripheral venous blood sampling using a blood-collection tube system Vacuette. Serum samples were prepared for antibodies to myelin basic protein (MBP) determination and identification of immunoglobulin glycosylation by means of lectin-immunoenzymatic assay. Results. Elevated levels of anti-MBP IgG and IgM in the treatment-naive MS patients were determined in comparison with the healthy persons. At the same time, higher exposure of anti-inflammatory sialic acid residues on IgG molecules and associated native immune complexes were observed in the group of patients who received INF therapy as well as higher exposure of fucosylated trimannose residues on measles IgG molecules and associated native immune complexes in comparison with the untreated patients. Conclusions. The blood serum of MS patients who received INF therapy were characterized by lower levels of IgG and IgM antibodies to MBP and higher exposure of sialic acid terminal residues on IgG and IgM molecules in comparison with the untreated patients. It is reasonable to assume that INF therapy could lead to anti-inflammatory native IgG complexes formation and / or decrease in IgG and IgM autoantibodies against the nervous system components, as it has been shown for autoantibodies to MBP.