The macrophage activity marker sCD14 is increased in patients with multiple sclerosis and upregulated by interferon beta-1b

The soluble form of the CD14 molecule (sCD14), a macrophage activity marker, was measured in the plasma of 17 patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and 20 patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS). In patients with PPMS, sCD14 levels were determined before and after treatment with interferon beta (IFNB). In both PPMS and in RRMS, sCD14 levels were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls. In patients with PPMS, sCD14 levels increased significantly during the first 3 months of IFNB therapy, then slightly decreased, but still remained elevated compared with levels before therapy. Therefore, the elevated sCD14 levels may be a marker in evaluating biological response to IFNB therapy. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.