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The cytokine interferon beta (IFN) is successfully used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), although there is a high degree of variability in the response. A common mechanism involved in the modulation of responsiveness to cytokines is represented by regulation of their receptor expression through autocrine ligand–mediated loops. The present study is aimed at investigating the regulation of IFN/ receptor (IFNAR) during IFN therapy in patients with MS and at correlating it with the biologic responsiveness to the cytokine.

Prolonged therapy with interferon (IFN) often leads to the development of anti-IFN binding antibodies (BAbs). A subset of the BAbs is of a neutralizing nature (neutralizing antibodies, NAbs) and is associated with reduced clinical efficacy of therapy. Myxovirus-resistance-protein A (MxA) has proven to be a reliable biomarker of IFN bioactivity. We analyzed the prognostic value of MxA mRNA, NAbs, and BAbs on the risk of having a new relapse in IFN-treated patients.