Alpha-Tocopherol and NADPH in the Erythrocytes and Plasma of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the influence of interferon-β-1b (INF-β-1b) therapy on blood antioxidants (α-tocopherol and NADPH) in multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients and Methods: Patients with relapsing-remitting MS (n = 14) have been studied during 6 months of INF-β-1b therapy. α-Tocopherol was determined by HPLC and UV or electrochemical detection; NADPH was quantified spectrophotometrically. Results: The erythrocyte α-tocopherol level was reduced (p < 0.001) before treatment, but had regained the control level by 6 months of therapy. The plasma α-tocopherol/lipid ratios were constant during therapy. Plasma triglyceride levels were transiently increased (p = 0.0270) after 1 month of treatment. INF-β-1b had also induced a transient decrease in NADPH after 1 month, but thereafter the level returned to approximately the initial value (p = 0.0248). Conclusion: INF-β-1b seems to exert a sparing effect toward the erythrocyte α-tocopherol content. The fall in NADPH in parallel to the rise in plasma triglycerides suggests stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by INF-β-1b.

Effect of Immunomodulation With Human Interferon-β on Early Functional Recovery From Experimental Spinal Cord Injury

“…39 In the IFN-␤ treated group, lipid peroxidation was found to decrease to the preinjury levels. IFN-␤ treatment has been demonstrated to increase the ␣-tocopherol component of plasma nonenzymatic antioxidant mechanism in patients with MS. 17 Furthermore, IFN-␤-1b treatment has also been shown to exert a sparing effect on erythrocyte ␣-tocopherol concentration in patients with MS. 17 It is possible that IFN-␤ treatment may increase the nonenzymatic antioxidant mechanism of blood after spinal cord injury in rats. Since free oxygen radical production by neutrophils have been reported to become more important than the other sources with longer periods of cerebral ischemia, it is also possible that decreased neutrophil infiltration may result in decreased lipid peroxidation.…”

“…Recombinant human interferon-beta (IFN-␤) is a regulatory cytokine with anti-inflammatory properties that has been approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] More recent experimental studies have been demonstrated that IFN-␤ possessed significant neuroprotection after transient ischemic stroke. [25][26][27] Immunomodulation with IFN-␤ has been the subject of extensive studies, but according to our literature search, the neuroprotective effect of IFN-␤ after spinal cord injury (SCI) has not yet been studied.…”

Alpha-tocopherol and MRI Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis – Association and Prediction

“…IFNB treatment was associated with higher concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in plasma of MS patients compared to controls [9], and also with normalization of the alpha-tocopherol levels in erythrocytes [10].…”

Excitotoxins, Mitochondrial and Redox Disturbances in Multiple Sclerosis

“…Interferon-beta-1b therapy increased the level of alpha-tocopherol, but not the corrected lipid levels after two months of therapy [127]. After six months of interferon-β therapy, the earlier decreased α-tocopherol levels were normalized in the erythrocytes of MS patients, while the α-tocopherol/lipid ratios remained constant [137]. This finding was supported by another study, where, besides the increased alpha tocopherol levels during interferon-beta treatment, reduced disease activity on MRI was described [138].…”