title: Abatacept: A review of a new biologic agent for refractory rheumatoid arthritis for dermatologists.
abstract: Abatacept is a newly approved treatment for rheumatoid arthritis refractory to other agents. Abatacept is a fusion protein of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen (CTLA) molecule and immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 that blocks CD28. Specifically, abatacept blocks the CD80 and CD86 ligands on the surface of antigen-presenting cells that must interface with the T-cell's CD28 receptor to activate T cells. Abatacept seems to be more immunosuppressive than tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers. The combination of abatacept and a tumor necrosis factor alpha blocking agent does not seem more effective than either agent alone. Because abatacept has the ability to suppress T-cell function, it has the potential to be a treatment for psoriasis and other autoimmune conditions involving pathologic processes driven by T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY 10025, USA. Scheinfeld@earthlink.net
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scheinfeld
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D000069594:Abatacept