In:
European Neurology, S. Karger AG, Vol. 50, No. 4 ( 2003), p. 200-206
Abstract:
Glatiramer acetate (GA), a mixture of synthetic polypeptides, has beneficial effects on the clinical course and the MRI-defined disease activity of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, evidence has been provided that the apoptosis of disease-relevant T cells is dysregulated. In this study, we investigated the effect of GA on T cell apoptosis, T cell activation, and cytokine profile of lymphocytes derived from 19 relapsing-remitting MS patients during the first year of GA therapy. Analysis of blood samples obtained every 6 weeks showed an increase in apoptotic T helper cells after 30 weeks of therapy. This effect remained until the end of the study and was accompanied by an increase in activated T cells and interleukin-4-producing lymphocytes. Thus, in addition to the established effect of GA on the cytokine network, GA-mediated immunomodulation might involve the apoptotic elimination of T helper cells.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0014-3022
,
1421-9913
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
2003
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1482237-4
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