A new cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrates gamma interferonsuppression by beta interferon in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system of unknown etiology, Immune mechanisms involving the proinflammatory cytokine gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) are believed to play an important ro le in the pathogenesis of MS. IFN-beta-1b has been introduced as a treatmen t for MS and was found to reduce the number and severity of clinical exacer bations. To examine the influence of IFN-beta-1b on myelin basic protein (M BP)-specific and phytohemagglutinin-induced IFN-gamma production, we develo ped a cell-released capturing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CRC-ELISA) , which rapidly measures spontaneous and antigen- or mitogen-induced cellul ar IFN-gamma production. CRC-ELISA documented a significant MBP-specific T- cell response in the blood of untreated MS patients, as assessed by IFN-gam ma production. This response was suppressed in MS patients treated with IFN -beta-1b. The present work confirms in vivo the in vitro suppressive effect s of IFN-beta-1b on IFN-gamma production in MS. Moreover, it provides a pow erful new technique for detection of cytokines.