Interferon beta-1b inhibits reactive oxygen species production in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

We studied the rate of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by monocytes 'ex vivo' in a cohort of healthy individuals, in a group of MS patients undergoing treatment with interferon beta-lb and another group of MS patients who refused treatment with interferon beta-1b. The rate of ROS production in healthy individuals was slightly lower than in non-treated MS patients. The lower rate of ROS production was obtained in monocytes of MS patients treated with interferon beta-1b. These results indicate that the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS patients with interferon beta-lb rendered the NADPH oxidase of the monocytes less sensitive to trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.