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Published on: February 8, 2019
Fcγ receptors in Norwegian multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls
S Gavasso1, Ø Torkildsen, T H Marøy
1Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Background:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system in genetically susceptible persons. Fcγ receptors (FcγR) are involved in autoimmune diseases.
Patients And Methods:
Sixteen Norwegian patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) were studied to see whether treatment with either interferon-beta (INF-β) or glatiramer acetate (GA) influenced the proportion of FcγR1a, FcγR2a, and FcγR3b positive monocytes, granulocytes, or lymphocytes or FcγR1a, FcγR2a, and FcγR2b mRNA levels in leukocytes. One hundred and twenty-seven patients with RRMS and 54 Norwegian healthy blood donors were also analyzed for FcγR2b polymorphisms.
Results:
Interferon-beta or GA treatment initiated an increase in the proportion of FcγR positive lymphocytes, but did not cause major influence of the long-term proportion of FcγR positive leukocytes or their FcγR mRNA levels. No significant differences were observed between RRMS patients and healthy controls for the genotype and allele frequencies of FcγR2b polymorphisms.
Discussion:
INF-β or GA treatment probably has no major role in the regulation of FcγRs on immune cells in RRMS. Furthermore, polymorphisms of the inhibitory FcγR2b do not seem to influence the susceptibility for MS.
Insights
Treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) like interferon-beta (INF-β) or glatiramer acetate (GA) may not significantly alter Fc gamma receptors (FcγR) on immune cells. FcγR2b gene variations also do not appear to increase MS risk.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroimmunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated central nervous system disorder.
- Fc gamma receptors (FcγR) play a role in autoimmune diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of interferon-beta (INF-β) and glatiramer acetate (GA) on Fcγ receptor expression and mRNA levels in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
- To analyze FcγR2b polymorphisms in MS patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Studied 16 Norwegian relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients undergoing INF-β or GA treatment.
- Assessed FcγR1a, FcγR2a, FcγR3b positive cells and FcγR mRNA levels in leukocytes.
- Analyzed FcγR2b polymorphisms in 127 RRMS patients and 54 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- INF-β or GA treatment increased FcγR positive lymphocytes but had minimal long-term effect on FcγR expression or mRNA levels in leukocytes.
- No significant differences in FcγR2b genotype or allele frequencies were found between RRMS patients and healthy controls.
Conclusions:
- INF-β or GA treatment likely does not significantly regulate FcγRs on immune cells in RRMS.
- FcγR2b polymorphisms do not appear to influence susceptibility to MS.
