Interferon β-1a and Atorvastatin in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Statins, widely used cholesterol-lowering agents, have also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and immunomdulatory effects. To evaluate the effects of atorvastatin in combination with Interferon-β in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Multipl...

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Published in:	Iranian journal of immunology 2016-03, Vol.13 (1), p.16-26
Main Authors:	Ghasami, Keyvan, Faraji, Fardin, Fazeli, Masoud, Ghazavi, Ali, Mosayebi, Ghasem
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Adult Antioxidants - metabolism Atorvastatin Atorvastatin Calcium - therapeutic use Case-Control Studies Cholesterol Cytokines Cytokines - blood Cytokines - metabolism Drug Therapy, Combination Expanded Disability Status Scale Scores (EDSS) Female Gadolinium Humans Inflammation Interferon Interferon beta-1a - therapeutic use Interferon β-1a Interleukin 10 Interleukin 17 Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism Lymphocyte Activation - immunology Lymphocytes Lymphocytes - immunology Lymphocytes - metabolism Male Middle Aged Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis - diagnosis Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy Multiple Sclerosis - immunology Multiple Sclerosis - metabolism Nitric oxide Nitric Oxide - metabolism Statins Treatment Outcome Tumor necrosis factor-α β-Interferon
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Summary:	Statins, widely used cholesterol-lowering agents, have also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and immunomdulatory effects. To evaluate the effects of atorvastatin in combination with Interferon-β in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Multiple sclerosis patients were randomized independently, in a double blind design, into one of two treatment groups. Control group (n=45) received 30 μg/week interferon β-1a via intra-muscular injection. Atorvastatin-treated group (n=50) received interferon β-1a similar to control group in addition to atorvastatin (40 mg/day) for 18-months. All clinical and immunological variables were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the expanded disability status scale scores and the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions during the 18-month treatment period. After 18 months, the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β and serum ferric reducing antioxidant power in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly higher than the control group. Levels of IL-17, TNF-α and lymphocyte proliferation in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly lower than the control group. Although combined atorvastatin and interferon-β do not change the clinical course of MS, atorvastatin might have beneficial effects in MS treatment possibly through inducing anti-inflammatory responses.
ISSN:	1735-1383 1735-367X