Interferon beta-1a induces expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in human T lymphocytes in vitro and not in vivo

Aim: To detect IFN β-1a-induced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to undermine the hypothesis of IFN β-1a-associated neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: The influence of IFN β-1a on in vitro activated peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donors was tested. Proliferation analyses were made to detect T-cell growth. BDNF expression was measured by standard ELISA. To assess the influence of IFN β-1a on BDNF expression in vivo, BDNF serum levels of MS patients treated with IFN β-1a were compared with those of untreated patients. Results: IFN β-1a inhibited T-cell proliferation dose dependently. It induced BDNF expression at middle concentrations. MS patients treated with IFN β-1a exhibited significantly lower BDNF serum levels than untreated patients. Conclusion: IFN β-1a may promote neuroprotection by inducing BDNF expression, but its importance in vivo remains open.