title: New therapeutic targets for rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: New insights into the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and consequently new targets of therapy are covered in a broad overview fashion. Short-term significant beneficial effect on RA disease activity has been established in a small but rapidly growing number of double-blind placebo-controlled trials now including recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist, chimeric (mouse/human) monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against TNF alpha (cA2), humanised (human/mouse) anti-TNF alpha mAb (CDP571) and recombinant human TNF-receptor-Fc fusion protein (TNFR:Fc). Placebo-controlled trials of anti-T cells agents such as chimeric anti-CD4 mAb (cM-T412) and anti-CD5 immunoconjugate, did not demonstrate clinical benefit. A placebo-controlled study of the anti-T cell derived cytokine IL-2 (DAB486IL-2) showed only modes clinical improvement. Other anti-T cell approaches such as autologous T cell vaccination and induction of tolerance by oral type II collagen have been unsuccessful. The one controlled trial with an anti-inflammatory cytokine, recombinant human IFN-gamma, showed modest clinical benefits. Controlled trials with IL-4 and IL-10 and with anti-adhesion molecules are awaited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Jan van Breemen Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dinant
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dijkmans
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016207:Cytokines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha