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Absence of MxA induction is related to a poor clinical response to interferon beta treatment in multiple sclerosis patients

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate whether induction of myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) mRNA after 3 months of interferon-β administration is related to the treatment response in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In this prospective study, MS patients were enrolled before starting treatment. Demographic, clinical and radiological variables were recorded. Blood samples were obtained before, and at 3 and 12 months after interferon-β treatment. Real-time PCR was used to analyze MxA mRNA expression. Patients were classified as MxA-low or -high depending on MxA levels at baseline, and as MxA-induced or -non-induced according to whether an increase in MxA expression was detected at month 3. Time to the next relapse was investigated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. One hundred and four patients were selected and followed for a median of 2.2 years (IQR 1.6–3.5). On Cox regression analysis, a higher EDSS score before treatment (HR 1.57; 95 % CI 1.02–2.40; p = 0.039), MxA-high status at baseline (HR 2.71; 95 % CI 1.26–5.81; p = 0.010), and MxA-non-induced at month 3 (HR 2.49; 95 % CI 1.08–5.68; p = 0.031), were predictors of poor response to interferon-β in naïve MS patients. Patients showing a lower capacity for MxA induction following 3 months of interferon-β treatment are more likely to be non-responders to this therapy.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Txomin Arbizu for his support in the development of the study, Ana M. González, Nuria Iranzo, Isabel León, M. Teresa Anguix, Silvia Macho and Mireya Bures for their nursing assistance, Gemma Aiza and Nadia García for their laboratory support, Susana Pobla for her administrative support and all patients for their invaluable participation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Edifici Tècnic-Quirúrgic, mòdul E. Gran via s/n, 08907, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

    Elisabet Matas, Laura Bau, Lucía Romero-Pinel, Maria Alba Mañé-Martínez & Sergio Martínez-Yélamos

  2. Translational Research Laboratory, Institut Català d’Oncologia-IDIBELL, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

    María Martínez-Iniesta

  3. Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain

    Maria Alba Mañé-Martínez

Authors
  1. Elisabet Matas
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  2. Laura Bau
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  3. María Martínez-Iniesta
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  4. Lucía Romero-Pinel
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  5. Maria Alba Mañé-Martínez
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  6. Sergio Martínez-Yélamos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elisabet Matas.

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Conflicts of interest

E Matas, L. Bau, L. Romero-Pinel, MA. Mañé-Martínez and S. Martínez-Yélamos received research support, funding for travel and congress expenses and honoraria from speaking engagements from Biogen Idec, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries LTD, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Merck Serono. M. Martínez-Iniesta reports no disclosures.

Ethical standard

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, and written informed consent to participate was obtained from each patient and control.

Funding

This work was partially supported by the Convenio de Investigación. Dep. de Salut. Generalitat de Catalunya (352/05).

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Matas, E., Bau, L., Martínez-Iniesta, M. et al. Absence of MxA induction is related to a poor clinical response to interferon beta treatment in multiple sclerosis patients. J Neurol 263, 722–729 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-016-8053-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-016-8053-z

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