Interferon-beta-1a treatment increases CD56 natural killer cells and CD4+CD25+ Foxp3 expression in subjects with multiple sclerosis

Disease modifying effects of interferon (IFN)-β therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be mediated in part through enhanced immunoregulation by the CD56^bright subpopulation of natural killer (NK) cells and by Foxp3+ (not italicized) CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg). We found that IFN-β-1a(IM) treatment of relapsing–remitting (RR)MS subjects over 12 months significantly increased both percentage of CD56^bright NK cells and Foxp3 mRNA expression compared to baseline values, untreated RRMS subjects and healthy controls (HC). This striking enhancement of two prominent immunoregulatory pathways lends support to the idea that beneficial effects of IFN-β-1a in MS include control of pernicious autoimmunity.