IFN receptor genes do not determine IFN-B response

A team of researchers recently analyzed two interferon receptor genes (IFNAR1 and IFNAR2) in a group of MS patients being treated with interferon beta. The goal was to see whether differences in these genes determined whether patients would be responders or nonresponders to the drug (that is, whether the drug would be effective for them or not).

None of the eight gene polymorphisms studied appeared to strongly influence the efficacy of IFN-beta; one may have a modest effect, but this needs to be studied again to be confirmed. Although this particular study did not show anything significant, conducting more studies of this type might someday lead to a method of predicting who will and won't benefit from current MS drugs (wouldn't that be nice!) and may also provide important clues into the pathogenesis of MS.