Iranian Journal of Immunology

Interferon β-1a and Atorvastatin in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Keyvan Ghasami 1
Fardin Faraji 1
Masoud Fazeli 2
Ali Ghazavi 3
Ghasem Mosayebi 4

1 Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

2 Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

3 Department of Immunology, Infectious Diseases Research Center (IDRC), School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

4 Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/iji.2016.16724
Abstract
Background: Statins, widely used cholesterol-lowering agents, have also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and immunomdulatory effects.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of atorvastatin in combination with Interferon-β in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Methods: Multiple sclerosis patients were randomized independently, in a double blind design, into one of two treatment groups. Control group (n=45) received 30 μg/week interferon β-1a via intra-muscular injection. Atorvastatin-treated group (n=50) received interferon β-1a similar to control group in addition to atorvastatin (40 mg/day) for 18-months. All clinical and immunological variables were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study.
Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the expanded disability status scale scores and the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions during the 18-month treatment period. After 18 months, the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β and serum ferric reducing antioxidant power in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly higher than the control group. Levels of IL-17, TNF-α and lymphocyte proliferation in the atorvastatin treatment group were significantly lower than the control group.
Conclusion: Although combined atorvastatin and interferon-β do not change the clinical course of MS, atorvastatin might have beneficial effects in MS treatment possibly through inducing anti-inflammatory responses.

Keywords

Atorvastatin
Cytokines
Expanded Disability Status Scale Scores (EDSS)
Interferon β-1a
Multiple Sclerosis
Nitric oxide
Iranian Journal of Immunology
Volume 13, Issue 1
Winter 2016
Pages 16-26

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