The effect of recombinant alpha 2 ‐interferon on defective natural killer cell activity in multiple sclerosis

Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell activity was evaluated in exacerbating/remitting MS patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) from MS patients had impaired NK-cell cytotoxicity against the K562 myeloid target cell. NK activity was depressed, irrespective of the interval (2 to 13 months) after the last exacerbation. Recombinant alpha2-interferon (100 U/ml) enhanced NK activity of both MS and control MNC. Cytotoxicity mediated by interferon-treated MS MNC was increased to the level of untreated control MNC. These studies show that MNC from exacerbating/remitting MS patients possess a defect in NK-cell activity that can be corrected in vitro by treatment with interferon.

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