Interferons have opposites effects on B-Cells and T-cells in Multiple Sclerosis Therapy

So, as you my recall from my previous post [1], the new wave of MS therapies aims at decreasing the B-Cell proliferation. The previous MS drug generation was based on  interferon therapy an aim at  reducing the T-cells proliferation. Well known such interferon drugs are Betaseron and Avonex

_**Note**_: B-Cells and T-Cells are lymphocytes, produced in the spleen and lymph nodes. These l[ymphocytes [Wikipedia] ][1]are the back bone of your Immune System

So now comes a study [2] showing that interferon therapy decreased the T-Cell all right, but **_increased_** the B-Cell production, at least for a while.

Maybe that is why Interferons have a more limited efficacy than the B-Cell moderating treatments.

A post in NeuroImmunology [3], is helpful to understand what is happening in the MS treatment  community _(should I say industry_..) Although aimed at  lamenting the fate of [Rituximab][2], as compared to [Ocrelizumab][3], that post brings the opinion of an (anonymous?)  Immunologist. The author is particularly concerned about leukopenia, a condition with a lower count of white blood cells

Why would one want to increase the proliferation of B-Cells? But what is interesting is that the interferon based drug  do have some benefit, albeit less than the new drug wave we mentioned.

_**Talk to your Doctor about this**_ particularly if you are taking Interferon type of MS drugs

_**Sources:**_

[1] [MediNewsDigest][4] ; "New Drug Classes For Multiple Sclerosis Are Coming: Just In or Clinical Trials" ; November 3

[2] [Journal of NeuroImmunology][5] ; ""Opposite effects of interferon-beta on new B and T cell release from production sites in multiple sclerosis patients" ; 14 November 2011

[3] [NeuroImmunology Blog][6] ; "The shameful story of Rituximab in Multiple Sclerosis" ; The shameful story of Rituximab in Multiple Sclerosis"; Nov 3rd, 2011

Technorati Tags: [effects on B-Cells and T-cells][7], [Interferons][8], [Multiple Sclerosis Therapy][9], [Ocrelizumab][10], [Rituxan][11]

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[1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphocyte#Development
[2]: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rituximab
[3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocrelizumab
[4]: http://www.medinewsdigest.com/../?p=3107
[5]: http://www.jni-journal.com/article/PIIS0165572811002931/abstract?rss=yes
[6]: http://neuroimmunology.wordpress.com/?s=b-cell
[7]: http://technorati.com/tag/effects+on+B-Cells+and+T-cells
[8]: http://technorati.com/tag/Interferons
[9]: http://technorati.com/tag/Multiple+Sclerosis+Therapy
[10]: http://technorati.com/tag/Ocrelizumab
[11]: http://technorati.com/tag/Rituxan
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