you all see this? Two types of MS - via gamma interferon or IL-17

[Guest guest]

Apparently, there are at least two types of MS - one gamma-interferon sensitive

and the other tied to IL-17.

If you are the gamma-interferon-sensitive type, then beta-seron may be right on

target for you. Apparently, the same researchers will be revealing where

Copaxone fits in as well in the future . . . and they will likely patent a lab

blood test to determine which type you are.

Encouraging stuff. I may give beta-seron a try to see in a crude test which

type I am . . . I take Copaxone now.

Cheers,

Two cytokines called gamma-interferon and IL-17, for example, tend to induce the

kinds of inflammatory immune-system arousal that can trigger multiple sclerosis.

Axtell (now a postdoctoral scholar in Steinman's lab), Steinman and their

colleagues were able to induce two superficially similar forms of EAE in mice by

directing the myelin-attacking T cells to predominantly secrete either

gamma-interferon or IL-17, respectively. The researchers found that

beta-interferon improved the condition of animals whose EAE had been induced by

gamma-interferon-secreting T cells, but exacerbated symptoms in those whose EAE

had been induced by IL-17-secreting T cells.

Intrigued, the investigators turned to humans. Another postdoctoral scholar in

the Steinman lab, Brigit deJong, MD, the study's second author, had previously

been involved in research in Amsterdam in which multiple-sclerosis patients were

treated with beta-interferon and meticulously followed up. The Stanford group

obtained blood samples taken from 26 of these patients both before and about two

years after the initiation of treatment. Without knowing which samples came from

patients who had responded well or poorly to beta-interferon treatment, they

went about measuring IL-17 levels in those samples.

Eventually, patients' follow-up histories were revealed to the researchers and

their measured IL-17 levels were paired with their post-treatment progress. A

clear pattern emerged. Measurements of a particular variety of IL-17, called

IL-17F, clustered at either very high or very low levels in individual patients'

blood. Those with very low detectable blood levels of IL-17F responded well to

beta-interferon treatment, experiencing no relapses or instances of required

steroids (to quickly shut down a malfunctioning immune system). But patients

with very high IL-17F levels — about one out of three subjects — responded

poorly by the same criteria. In fact, said Steinman, there is some evidence that

beta-interferon actually worsened these patients' conditions.