Chemokines play a major role in autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Gender also affects the susceptibility and course of MS. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of the macrophage-derived chemokine (CCL22) in women and men patients with MS. Blood samples were collected from 135 healthy subjects (35 men and 100 women) and 135 MS patients (29 men and 136 women; 47 newly diagnosed and 88 treated patients and have relapsing-remitting (RRMS; n = 65), secondary progressive (SPMS; n = 37), primary progressive (PPMS; n = 19), or progressive relapsing (PRMS; n = 14) patterns). The serum levels of CCL22 were measured by ELISA. The difference of the mean serum levels of CCL22 between the newly diagnosed MS men and healthy men was not significant, but in newly diagnosed MS women, the mean serum levels of CCL22 were significantly lower than those in treated MS women and healthy women (P < 0.006 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The differences of the mean CCL22 levels between men patients with different treatment programs were not significant, but the mean CCL22 levels were significantly higher in women treated with interferon-β or the combination of interferon-β plus methylprednisolone as compared to untreated women patients (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The CCL22 levels were also significantly higher in women with RRMS and PRMS patterns in comparison to healthy women (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). These results showed lower levels of CCL22 in women patients which represents that the reduction in CCL22 levels may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease in women. In women patients, the levels of CCL22 were influenced by disease pattern and treatment.

Background: The role of the immune system in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been proved. Pentoxifylline has an inhibitory effect on phosphodiesterase and the cytokine products. In some studies therapeutic effects of pentoxifylline have been documented in MS patients. Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of pentoxifylline on the recurrence and the disease course in MS patients. Patients and Methods:In our double-blinded clinical trial study, 44 newly diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS patients were studied for 12 months. They were divided into 2 groups: in group 1, 22 patients received interferon and oral pentoxifylline (800 mg daily for 2 months) and in group 2 (control group), 22 patients received interferon with a placebo. The monthly attack rates and the clinical condition of the patients, using the expanded disability status scale (EDSS), were measured in 3 different times along the study (beginning of the treatment, 6 months after and at the end of the treatment). Analysis of the data was done using t-test and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test. Results: There was not any significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of age and sex. The recurrence in the first year was 0.4% and 0 in group 1 and 2, respectively. Also there was not any difference in the clinical course and the recurrence of the disease between two groups in one year of follow-up. Conclusions: Adding pentoxifylline to interferon does not have any synergistic therapeutic effects on the reduction of relapse frequency and EDSS in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in comparison with interferon.