Preserved Antigen-Specific Immune Response in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Responding to IFNβ-Therapy

Abstract

BackgroundInterferon-beta (IFNβ) regulates the expression of a complex set of pro- as well as anti-inflammatory genes. In cohorts of MS patients unstratified for therapeutic response to IFNβ, normal vaccine-specific immune responses have been observed. Data capturing antigen-specific immune responses in cohorts of subjects defined by response to IFNβ-therapy are not available.ObjectiveTo assess antigen-specific immune responses in a cohort of MS patients responding clinically and radiologically to IFNβ.MethodsIn 26 MS patients, clinical and MRI disease activity were assessed before and under treatment with IFNβ. Humoral and cellular immune response to influenza vaccine was prospectively characterized in these individuals, and 33 healthy controls by influenza-specific Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Enzyme Linked Immuno Spot Technique (ELISPOT).ResultsRelated to pre-treatment disease activity, IFNβ reduced clinical and radiological MS disease-activity. Following influenza vaccination, frequencies of influenza-specific T cells and concentrations of anti-influenza A and B IgM and IgG increased comparably in MS-patients and in healthy controls.ConclusionsBy showing in a cohort of MS-patients responding to IFNβ vaccine-specific immune responses comparable to controls, this study indicates that antigen-specific immune responses can be preserved under successful IFNβ-therapy.

Antibody response to seasonal influenza vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis receiving immunomodulatory therapy

“…Rates of protection after influenza immunization in patients receiving interferon beta have been reported to be unchanged in several studies , as confirmed in the present study. This applies for all post‐vaccination time points.…”

Immunogenicity and predictors of response to a single dose trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine in multiple sclerosis patients receiving disease‐modifying therapies

“…A single‐strain analysis demonstrated seroprotection rates against H3N2 in patients receiving IFN comparable to those achieved in of healthy controls (93.0% vs 90.9%, n = 86) . In a study of patients with reduced clinical and radiological MS disease‐activity under IFN therapy, the immune response to influenza vaccination was similar to the one seen in healthy controls …”

“…Inactivated influenza vaccines are thus considered safe and are recommended in national guidelines . The response to influenza vaccination in MS patients has been evaluated for some of the DMT in controlled settings . Only recently the important question of response to vaccination in comparison across different therapies in a real‐life setting was raised and first results were published …”

“…16,18,25 The response to influenza vaccination in MS patients has been evaluated for some of the DMT in controlled settings. [26][27][28][29][30][31] Only recently the important question of response to vaccination in comparison across different therapies in a real-life setting was raised and first results were published. 32 The main aim of our study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a seasonal influenza vaccine in a real-life cohort of MS patients treated with different DMT.…”

Immune Response to Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Receiving Long-term Daclizumab Beta

“…15 Positive responses to influenza vaccine also have been observed with other treatments for RRMS. 6,[16][17][18][19] A similar proportion of patients with MS who were or were not treated with interferon beta-1a mounted an appropriate immune response to inactivate the influenza vaccine, and no new safety concerns were noted. 18 In an exploratory study of immunomodulatory treatments, rates of protection were lower in patients treated with glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, …”