Targeting the TNF-alpha pathway in sarcoidosis.
IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD/SIGNIFICANCE: Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease with various organ manifestations in which TNF-alpha has been demonstrated to play a major pathogenic role. The existing conventional therapies are not always able to minimize TNF-alpha-driven inflammation and other approaches should be used.


METHODS
TNF-alpha roles in sarcoid inflammation and granuloma formation are reviewed based on the literature published in the last two decades and the therapies able to target it specifically or non-specifically in sarcoidosis are discussed.


RESULTS
A better understanding of the pathogenic role of TNF-alpha in sarcoidosis and of the scientific rationale of its therapeutic blockade.


CONCLUSIONS
In some subsets of sarcoidosis with more rapid progession and/or therapeutic refractoriness TNF-alpha plays a more prominent role in disease pathogenesis, and its blockade might represent an appropriate therapeutic approach.
Antoniu
Sabina A
SA
Pulmonary Disease University Hospital, 700115 Iasi, Romania. sabina.antonela.antoniu@pneum.umfiasi.ro
D000068879:Adalimumab; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept; D010431:Pentoxifylline