title: Kinoids: a family of immunogens for active anticytokine immunotherapy applied to autoimmune diseases and cancer.
abstract: The complex homeostasis of tissues is coordinated by the cytokine network and imbalances in this network may result in chronic immune disorders. Key specific cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, IFN-alpha, IL-4 or VEGF have been demonstrated to be overproduced or abnormally released in the microenvironment of pathologic tissues. These findings have opened up the way to passive immunotherapy with anticytokine monoclonal antibodies. Even though passive immunotherapy has proved to be efficient, it is hampered by specific limitations. The discovery of a family of immunogens, the kinoids, consisting of inactivated cytokine derivatives, has led some to propose them for active immunotherapy as an alternative to passive immunotherapy. This review focuses on kinoids - on their validation in experimental mouse models and ongoing clinical trials. The advantages offered by this active immune therapy in terms of efficacy, safety and patient compliance will be stressed.
authors.affiliation: Pasteur Institute, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bizzini
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Drouet
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zagury
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abitbol
authors.forename: Arsène
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burny
authors.forename: Marie-Christophe
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Boissier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors