Effect of copolymer-1 on serial gadolinium-enhanced MRI in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

We examined the effect of Copolymer-1 (Cop1) on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging changes in 10 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Monthly gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced MR imaging was performed for 9 to 27 months in the pretreatment period followed by 10 to 14 additional months during Cop1 treatment. MR images were evaluated by two radiologists (F.S. and R.C.P.) masked to the scan date. We found a 57% decrease in the frequency of new Gd-enhancing lesions and in the mean area/month of new Gd-enhancing lesions in the Cop1 treatment period compared with the pretreatment period (0.92 versus 2.20 lesions per month and 22 mm2 versus 43 mm2 area/month; p = 0.1, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Percentage change in lesion load area on T2-weighted images showed a decrease in the accumulation of lesion area during treatment, which was significant for the patient group with a longer pretreatment period (p = 0.05, Friedman test). These results demonstrate a reduction in the number of new Gd-enhancing lesions and in the lesion load during Cop1 treatment compared with the preceding period without therapy and are suggestive of an effect of Cop1 on MR abnormalities observed in multiple sclerosis.

Selective blockade of T lymphocyte K+channels ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a model for multiple sclerosis

“…Although more experiments in chronic-relapsing EAE models are needed to evaluate Kv1.3 blockers both in rodents and primates, our findings suggest that ShK might represent a possible new therapeutic agent for MS, administered via the s.c. route like IFN-␤ (38) and glatiramer acetate (39). Our study also demonstrates high expression of Kv1.3 channels to be a general characteristic of chronically activated T cells, and we therefore propose Kv1.3 blockade to be a previously uncharacterized approach for the treatment of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.…”

Interferon Beta and Glatiramer Acetate Therapy

“…Mancardi et al [87] studied 10 participants with RRMS using monthly MRIs over 10-14 months and compared the findings to pretreatment MRIs from the preceding 9-27 months. The mean number of enhancing lesions per scan was 2.20 in the pretreatment phase and 0.92 during GA treatment, but this did not reach significance (p00.10).…”

Glatiramer Acetate (Copolymer-1, Copaxone) Promotes Th2 Cell Development and Increased IL-10 Production Through Modulation of Dendritic Cells

“…More recently, GA was also shown to inhibit type II collagen-reactive T cells in vitro (23) and to prevent graft vs host disease (24,25) and transplant rejection (26). The potential of GA as a therapeutic agent in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been further substantiated by the reduction of relapse frequency in relapsing-remitting MS patients and by the reduced appearance of new lesions in gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (27)(28)(29)(30).…”