Infliximab reduces the frequency of interleukin 17-producing cells and the amounts of interleukin 17 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
BACKGROUND
To detect frequency changes in interleukin 17 (IL-17)(+) CD4(+) T cells and the amounts of IL-17 in supernatants between baseline and 30 weeks after Infliximab combined with methotrexate (MTX) or MTX-alone therapy.


METHODS
Flow cytometry was used to analyze the frequency of IL-17(+) CD4(+) T cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and control subjects at baseline and 30 weeks after therapy. Secretion of IL-17 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The percentages of IL-17(+) CD4(+)T cells were increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with RA compared with healthy subjects. The percentages of IL-17(+) CD4(+)T cells were correlated with the number of swelling joints and C-reactive protein of RA patients. Likewise, concentrations of IL-17 in supernatants from patients with RA were significantly higher compared with those from control subjects. After infliximab combined with MTX or MTX-alone therapy, the number of swelling joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, and Disease Activity Score 28 decreased significantly compared with baseline. Only in the infliximab + MTX group that the frequency of T(H)17 cells and concentration of IL-17 decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the hypothesis that infliximab therapy can have an effect on T(H)17 cells and decrease disease activity.
Shen
Hui
H
Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, 1st Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. shenhuicam@sohu.com
Xia
Liping
L
Lu
Jing
J
Xiao
Weiguo
W
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D020381:Interleukin-17; D000069285:Infliximab; D008727:Methotrexate