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Background : The impact of disease-modifying treatments on humoral response induced by inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines is understudied. Methods : We recruited 34 persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) under fingolimod treatment and 25 healthy individuals. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG indices were measured by ELISA in sera of participants after CoronaVac vaccinations. Results : Persons with MS displayed significantly lower antibody levels and seropositivity prevalence. Persons with MS with longer fingolimod treatment durations displayed lower anti-SARS-CoV-2 indices. Conclusion : Our results support previous findings regarding humoral response impairing effect of fingolimod after vaccinations. Patients under fingolimod treatment may require closer monitoring for COVID-19.

Background/Aim: Neurological symptoms (neuro-Behçet's disease; NBD) occur in a fraction of Behçet's disease (BD) patients and often present with parenchymal brain lesions and clinical exacerbations. Our aim was to identify genes associated with attack and remission periods of NBD. Materials and Methods: Microarray analysis was performed using peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples obtained during attack and remission periods of five NBD patients. Expression levels of the most significantly upregulated genes were measured with real-time PCR using PBMC samples of 15 NBD patients and 20 healthy controls. Results: During NBD attacks, the most remarkably upregulated genes were defensin alpha 1B (DEFA1B) and NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3). Real time PCR studies showed significantly increased DEFA1B and NLRP3 expression levels during attacks. Conclusion: Immunological factors showing the most significant increase in expression during NBD attacks were primarily associated with innate immunity functions. DEFA1B and NLRP3 can be used as biomarkers for estimation of disease activity in NBD.

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