Humoral and cellular immune responses to Copolymer 1 in multiple sclerosis patients treated with Copaxone®

Interferon Beta and Glatiramer Acetate Therapy

“…GA's effect on the adaptive immune system is not limited to T cell interactions, however. GA stimulates B-cells' production of anti-GA antibodies, but unlike the NAbs of IFNB, there is no evidence that the anti-GA antibodies reduce GA's effectiveness [75,76]. GA may also decrease B-cellmediated activation of autoreactive T cells and promote B-cell-stimulated Treg function.…”

Mechanism of Action of Glatiramer Acetate in Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

“…However, serum from GA-treated patients containing antibodies against GA did not inhibit the ability of GA to stimulate GA-reactive T cells, indicating that in vitro anti-GA Ig had no neutralizing effect. 45 Interestingly, Brenner et al 47 reported that relapse-free patients displayed higher titers against GA than patients with an active disease course under GA treatment, indicating a beneficial rather than effect-neutralizing role of antibodies against GA. In fact, in an animal model of CNS demyelinating disease, GA-specific antibodies were shown to promote myelin repair, 48 an effect which might contribute to the proposed neuroprotective properties of GA in MS.…”

Therapeutic vaccines in autoimmunity

“…In three different clinical trials we investigated humoral and cellular immune responses in MS patients treated with GA (29). All patients (130) developed Cop 1-reactive antibodies, which peaked at 3 months after initiation of treatment, decreasing at 6 months and remaining low.…”