Methods for treating MS by inhibiting astrocyte proliferation in the brain with interferon 2-beta, thereby reducing inflammation

Described are nucleic acids and polypeptide sequences that code for an interferon-beta-2 ("IFN-beta2"). A pharmaceutical composition, which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and a therapeutically effective amount of a human IFN-beta2 polypeptide, biologically active fragment thereof, or biologically-active derivative thereof, is useful in treating multiple sclerosis in humans. The graph depicts the antiviral activity of IFN-beta2 and IFN-beta1b. Human WISH cells were stimulated with either IFN-beta1b or IFN-beta2 followed by infection with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Viral cytopathic effect (CPE) was measured using the redox dye Alamar Blue. Units of antiviral activity corresponding to IFN-beta1b are plotted along the X-axis. Specific antiviral activity of IFN-beta2 was determined to be 4.0-8.0 x106 International Units ("IU") per mg. Using this assay, IFN-beta2 demonstrates functional properties similar to those of IFN-beta1b.