title: [Monoclonal antibody therapy for rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is a systemic chronic inflammatory disease characterized by destructive polyarthritis. Although its etiology and pathogenesis are still to be elucidated, recent cumulative evidence has suggested both T cells and proinflammatory cytokines (such as tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-alpha, interleukin(IL)-1, IL-6) play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis. Therefore, they are thought to be optimal therapeutic targets. In fact, new therapies targeted to T cells and proinflammatory cytokines using biological agents including monoclonal antibodies have been developed extensively. Among them, anti-proinflammatory cytokine therapies, such as anti-TNF-alpha therapy, have shown an excellent efficacy and some are currently accepted as a new promising therapy for RA. It is expected that further investigation will provide additional insights into cure of RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University.
authors.forename: Taeko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Yukihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saeki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha