Development of antibodies to interferon beta in patients: technical and biological aspects

There are now several papers describing the development of antibodies to in terferons (IFN) in patients undergoing IFN therapy, Moreover, there is incr easing evidence to indicate that the development of antibodies to IFN may b e associated with a failure of the beneficial effects of the therapy. This paper will review and discuss what is currently known about the technical, and biological aspects of antibodies to IFN, with particular reference to a ntibodies to IFN beta that develop during therapy, Three main consideration s arise from the data. Firstly, a standardized quantitative assay to detect antibody to IFN must be agreed upon, Only when results can be compared, bo th qualitatively and quantitatively, will it be possible to monitor fully t he ability of antibodies to cause a relapse during treatment, Secondly, suf ficient data are now available to provide a rationale for monitoring the pr esence of anti-IFN antibodies in patients treated with IFN, This approach m ay allow a better understanding of the disease reactivation state observed in numerous patients treated with IFN, Finally, approaches aimed at limitin g the immunogenicity of IFN preparations and/or strategies designed to circ umvent antibody-mediated resistance to IFN treatment are required.