Multiplex array analysis of circulating cytokines and chemokines in natalizumab-treated patients with multiple sclerosis

- Nineteen Natalizumab-treated Multiple Sclerosis patients were followed for 21 months.
- Expression of 48 cytokines/chemokines was measured in sera at three time points.
- Decreased concentration of IL-10, IL1ra, IL7 and IL16 were observed.
- No association with replication of Polyomavirus JC was reported.
- Natalizumab has marginal impact on the systemic immunity.

Natalizumab greatly reduces inflammatory relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) by blocking the integrin-mediated leukocyte traffic to the brain, but less is known about its effects on the systemic immunity. We measured 48 cytokines/chemokines in sera from 19 natalizumab-treated MS patients. Serum concentrations of both anti-(IL-10, IL1ra) and pro-inflammatory (IL7, IL16) molecules decreased after 21-month treatment, without associations to unbalanced Th2/Th1cytokine ratios, clinical responses, and blood/urine replication of polyomavirus JC (JCPyV). No patient developed the JCPyV-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), the major risk factor of natalizumab therapy. Our data suggest that natalizumab has marginal impact on the systemic immunity.

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