Upregulation of integrin expression on monocytes in multiple sclerosis patients treated with natalizumab

• Eleven natalizumab-treated multiple sclerosis patients were followed for one year.
• Changes in monocytes, their subsets and CD49 and CD18 expression were evaluated.
• Increased expression of CD49d/CD18 on CD14+CD16+ and CD14dimCD16+ cells was found.
• The results suggest a role for monocyte subsets as mediators of natalizumab effects.

Natalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against the α4 subunit of VLA-4 integrin that is used to treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Although its effects on lymphocytes have been widely described, little is known about its effects on monocytes. Here we described the effects of natalizumab treatment on peripheral blood monocytes from a small cohort of MS patients in terms of relative frequencies and surface integrin (CD49d and CD18) expression. We showed that natalizumab treatment altered the surface integrin expression on monocyte subsets in the peripheral compartment, suggesting a role for them as mediators of natalizumab effects.

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