OBJECTIVE

To characterize the IFNbeta1a-regulated gene expression on leukocytes of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients using microarrays with whole human genome representation.

METHODS

Genes differentially expressed by interferon-beta were identified by a microarray in vitro study performed in leukocytes obtained from 5 MS relapsing-remitting patients.

RESULTS

Following the culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from MS relapsing-remitting patients for 24 hs with IFNbeta1a, the expression of 868 genes was modified: 545 increased (including CXCL11, CCL8, INDO, IFI27, CFB, CXCL10 and IFIT1) and 323 diminished (including RBP7, SEPT5, RNF8, ADORA2B and FOS).

CONCLUSIONS

Since many of them were previously recognized as involved in MS pathogenesis, the IFNbeta1a mechanism of action could imply a compensatory regulation of systems deregulated in MS.