[Th17-mediated relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is nonresponsive to interferon-β1b].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the efficacy of interferon beta-1b (INF-β-1b) on relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and the Th17 cells in peripheral blood. METHODS: Eleven RRMS patients were enrolled and treated with 250 μg INF-β-1b for 6 months. Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scrore and T2 lesion number on MRI were examined both at baseline and at the end of the study. Flow cytometry was used to detect the number of Th17 cells in peripheral blood before the treatment. RESULTS: Acoording to the EDSS scores, the 11 cases of RRMS were divided into two groups: the effective group and the ineffective group.The EDSS scores and the number of lesions on T2-weighted MRI were not different significantly between the two groups (P>0.05) before the treatment. But after the treatment, compared with the ineffective group, the EDSS scores and the number of lesions on T2-weighted MRI decreased significantly in the effective group (P<0.05). Compared with the effective group, the number of Th17 cells in the ineffective group increased significantly (P<0.01) before treatment. CONCLUSION: Th17-mediated RRMS is nonresponsive to IFN-β-1b treatment.