Asgari Nasrin, Voss Anne, Steenstrup Troels, Kyvik Kirsten Ohm, Stenager Egon, Lillevang Soeren Thue
Department of Neurology, Vejle Hospital, 7100 Vejle, Denmark ; Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsloewsvej 19,3, 5000 Odense C, Denmark ; Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, 29 Sdr. Boulevard, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
Department of Rheumatology, Odense University Hospital, Winsloewsvej 19B, 2., 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
Clin Dev Immunol. 2013;2013:713519. doi: 10.1155/2013/713519. Epub 2013 Nov 18.
Interferon-alpha (IFN- α ) has immunoregulatory functions in autoimmune inflammatory diseases. The goal of this study was to determine occurrence and clinical consequences of IFN- α in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients. Thirty-six NMO and 41 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients from a population-based retrospective case series were included. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score and MRI findings determined disease activity. Linear regression was used to assess the effects of the level of IFN- α on disability (EDSS). IFN- α was determined by sensitive ELISA assays. IFN- α was detectable in sera from 9/36 NMO patients, significantly more often than in the MS group (2/41) (P = 0.0197). A higher frequency of IFN- α was observed in NMO patients with acute relapse compared to NMO patients in remission (P < 0.001) and compared to the MS patients with relapse (P = 0.010). In NMO patients, the levels of IFN- α were significantly associated with EDSS (P = 0.0062). It may be concluded that IFN- α was detectable in a subgroup of NMO patients. Association of IFN- α levels with clinical disease activity and severity suggests a role for IFN- α in disease perpetuation and may provide a plausible explanation for a negative effect of IFN-1 treatment in NMO patients.
干扰素-α（IFN-α）在自身免疫性炎症疾病中具有免疫调节功能。本研究的目的是确定视神经脊髓炎（NMO）患者中IFN-α的出现情况及其临床后果。纳入了基于人群的回顾性病例系列中的36例NMO患者和41例多发性硬化症（MS）患者。采用扩展残疾状态量表（EDSS）评分和MRI检查结果来确定疾病活动度。使用线性回归评估IFN-α水平对残疾（EDSS）的影响。通过灵敏的ELISA检测法测定IFN-α。在9/36例NMO患者的血清中可检测到IFN-α，其出现频率显著高于MS组（2/41）（P = 0.0197）。与缓解期的NMO患者相比（P < 0.001）以及与复发期的MS患者相比（P = 0.010），急性复发的NMO患者中IFN-α的出现频率更高。在NMO患者中，IFN-α水平与EDSS显著相关（P = 0.0062）。可以得出结论，在一部分NMO患者中可检测到IFN-α。IFN-α水平与临床疾病活动度和严重程度的相关性表明IFN-α在疾病持续存在中发挥作用，这可能为IFN-1治疗对NMO患者产生负面影响提供一个合理的解释。
