Prevalence of neutralising antibodies to interferon-beta and clinical response in Chinese patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Issue 4 (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lau, Alexander Y; Ip, WK; Au, Cheryl; Lau, KK; Wong, Winnie; Yip, KK; Yeung, Jonas; Li, SH; Li, Patrick; Lee, Ryan; Siu, Deyond; Abrigo, Jill; Wong, Adrian; Mok, Vincent; Chan, Eric
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis journal, experimental, translational and clinical. Volume 3:Issue 4(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Multiple sclerosis -- neutralising antibodies -- interferon-beta -- Chinese -- clinical outcomes -- MxA protein induction; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; 616.834
• DOI: 10.1177/2055217317733485
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-2173

Abstract

Background: There are no data on neutralising antibodies to interferon-beta and its clinical implications in Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of neutralising antibodies among Chinese patients with relapsing MS receiving interferon-beta (1a or 1b) and to study the association between neutralising antibodies and the clinical-radiological response. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on MS patients who received interferon-beta for 9 months or more, and evaluated the clinical response by relapses and magnetic resonance imaging lesions. Blood samples were evaluated for myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) gene expression by polymerase chain reaction, anti-interferon-beta binding antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and neutralising antibodies by cell-based MxA protein induction and luciferase reporter gene assays. Assay performances were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: Among 78 subjects recruited, 61/77 (79%) had anti-interferon-beta binding antibodies, and 22/78 (28%) had neutralising antibodies by MxA protein induction assay. The presence of high-titre neutralising antibodies was associated with poor clinical outcome (odds ratio 6.1, 95% confidence interval 1.5–25.6, P = 0.013). The sensitivity and specificity for neutralising antibodies using MxA gene expression assay (cut-off 0.20) was 80% and 68%, respectively (area under the curve 0.71). Conclusions: Neutralising antibodies are associated with poor clinical outcome in Chinese patients with relapsing MS. MxA gene expression and protein induction assays are complimentary assays for neutralising antibody detection.