ANNUAL REVIEW master Final3a - St Vincent's University Hospital
ANNUAL REVIEW master Final3a - St Vincent's University Hospital
ANNUAL REVIEW master Final3a - St Vincent's University Hospital
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In collaboration with Prof. Kingston Mills, TCD; Dr Jean Fletcher, TCD<br />
7. The effects of IFN-‚ on Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) induced cytokine production by dendritic cells<br />
IFNα‚ is currently the most commonly used immunomodulatory treatment for MS; however the<br />
mechanism by which it mediates these effects is still not well understood. Dendritic cells play a pivotal<br />
role in directing immune responses via their production of of cytokines, usually in response to infection<br />
via stimulation of TLRs. We are therefore investigating the ability of IFN-β to modulate the cytokine<br />
profile of dendritic cells stimulated with different TLR agonists.<br />
Treatment of DCs with IFN beta suppressed production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12p40<br />
and IL-23, following TLR2 activation, but not in response to agonists for other TLRs. We are currently<br />
investigating whether this effect is due to induction of IL-10. These data suggest that IFN-beta may<br />
exert its protective effect in MS patients by modulating production of innate inflammatory cytokines that<br />
promote the induction of pathogenic autoreactive T cells<br />
In collaboration with Prof. Kingston Mills, TCD; Cheryl Sweeney TCD; Dr Jean Fletcher TCD<br />
8. An examination of the response shift phenomenon in relation to quality of life assessment in Multiple<br />
Sclerosis.<br />
L. Costelloe, K.O’Rourke, C. McGuigan, C Walsh, N Tubridy, M Hutchinson<br />
‘Response shift’ describes a change in the patient’s measure of self-evaluation in relation to a target<br />
construct (e.g. quality-of-life measures). It may be a source of bias in self-report studies. This paper<br />
describes the occurrence of a ‘response shift’ in patients with MS of varying severity.<br />
From this cohort we plan to re-assess a group of 100 patients with significant disability, observing for<br />
further evidence of the ‘response shift’ phenomenon, comparing clinical findings with patient perception<br />
of the impact of MS on their physical and psychological well-being (MSIS-29 scale).<br />
Meetings attended<br />
ABN London 2007 ECTRIMS – Prague, October 11th-14th 2007<br />
AAN Boston 2007<br />
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