T cell signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 4 and 6 are affected by adalimumab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
TNF-alpha inhibition therapy affects the systemic immune response in rheumatoid arthritis by influencing T cell subtypes (Th1, Th2, Treg), but its effect on the intracellular signal transduction in T cells remains largely unexplored. Here we studied the activation of Th1-associated signalling molecule STAT4 and Th2-associated STAT6 in CD4+ T cells.


METHODS
Eight rheumatoid arthritis patients were studied before and after 12 weeks of adalimumab therapy and compared to 8 healthy individuals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analysed flow cytometrically either directly after isolation or after 24 hours of anti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulation, to determine spontaneous and IL-4/IL-12-induced STAT4 and STAT6 phosphorylation in CD4+ T cells. Cytokine production by stimulated PBMC was measured in the supernatant using a cytometric bead array. Non-parametric statistical tests were applied.


RESULTS
After adalimumab therapy, phospho-STAT6 increased, both in freshly isolated and anti-CD3/anti-CD28-stimulated CD4+ T cells. The STAT6 response to brief IL-4 stimulation did not change. In healthy individuals and adalimumab-treated patients, anti-CD3/anti-CD28 induced the phosphorylation of STAT4, but not in untreated patients. IFN-gamma production in untreated patients was significantly lower than in healthy individuals or adalimumab-treated patients. In contrast, the production of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-12 was not influenced.


CONCLUSIONS
Adalimumab therapy increases Th2-associated STAT6 phosphorylation and restores the activation-induced STAT4 phosphorylation to the levels in healthy individuals. This advocates against a pro-inflammatory effect of Th1-associated STAT4 and might provide an explanation for the influence of TNF inhibition therapy on the systemic T cell response in rheumatoid arthritis.
Aerts
N E
NE
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Allergology, Rheumatology, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Ebo
D G
DG
Bridts
C H
CH
Stevens
W J
WJ
De Clerck
L S
LS
D000068879:Adalimumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; C494090:STAT4 protein, human; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494101:STAT6 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000068879:Adalimumab