title: Why do anti-tumor necrosis factor antibodies work in Crohn's disease?
abstract: Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antibodies are powerful therapeutic agents for the treatment of Crohn's disease. TNF has diverse proinflammatory effects within the intestinal mucosa and is a pivotal cytokine in the inflammatory cascade. Although anti-TNF antibodies exert a variety of anti-inflammatory effects by neutralizing the cytokine, these agents vary in their efficacy. Recent data suggest that the ability to bind transmembrane TNF is a key property necessary for efficacy. Transmembrane binding of TNF effects apoptosis of T cells, thereby alleviating a fundamental defect in Crohn's disease in the regulation of T cell populations.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Unit and MGH Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Sands
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001691:Biological Therapy; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C402162:CDP 571; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol