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Treatment of multiple sclerosis patients with interferon‐β primes monocyte‐derived macrophages for apoptotic cell death

Although interferon (IFN)‐β has shown a significant clinical benefit in multiple sclerosis (MS), its mechanism of action remains unclear. We found that IFN‐β treatment of patients with MS resulted in a significant increase in apoptotic cell death (measured by annexin V staining and nuclear fragmentation) of monocyte‐derived macrophages, as compared with cells derived from patients before treatment. Stimulation of the cells with IFN‐β in vitro resulted in an even further increase of annexin V binding, as well as increased Fas (CD 95, APO‐1) expression. However, no increased Fas expression, apoptotic monocytes, or monocytopenia were observed upon in vivo treatment. This indicates that IFN‐β does not deliver a death signal to monocytes but rather primes for subsequent macrophage apoptosis upon activation or differentiation.