bx-471 and Multiple-Sclerosis--Relapsing-Remitting

We investigated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and ICAM-3 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a subgroup of 34 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were treated orally with the chemokine receptor 1 antagonist BX 471 in a 16-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II study. ICAM-1 and ICAM-3 expression was measured by flow cytometry at different time points during and after therapy and compared using multivariate analysis of variance and non-parametric Mann Whitney test. ICAM-3 expression on CD14( +) peripheral blood mononuclear cells was increased in the verum group under therapy, but did not differ significantly between the verum and placebo groups. Most likely, this trend represents a small epiphenomenon only mediated by receptor cross-talk and feedback mechanisms.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Antigens, CD; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Double-Blind Method; Flow Cytometry; Germany; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Italy; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting; Phenylurea Compounds; Piperidines; Receptors, CCR1; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome