title: Immunological basis for the use of TNFalpha-blocking agents in ankylosing spondylitis and immunological changes during treatment.
abstract: TNFalpha is expressed in high amounts at the site of inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis, which provided the basis to initiate treatment studies with TNF-blocking agents. We could show that the immunological effects of infliximab and etanercept differ in patients with AS, although the clinical effect was similarly good. While infliximab induced a downregulation of the production of the T-helper 1-cytokines IFNgamma and TNFalpha, etanercept treatment triggered rather an upregulation of these cytokines secreted by T cells after in vitro stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Klinikum Benjamin Franklin, Free University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J X
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sieper
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept