title: Recombinant proteins in rheumatology - recent advances.
abstract: New targeted anti-inflammatory drugs have revolutionized the therapeutic strategies in rheumatology. Recombinant DNA selection technologies have enabled the isolation and humanization of specific antibody fragments of any specificity that can be 'armed' to deliver effective anti-inflammatory 'payloads'. Antibodies and other targeted provide the opportunity to block key soluble mediators of inflammation in their milieu, or alternatively to block intracellular inflammation-triggering pathways by binding to an upstream cell-surface receptor. Designed proteins can be improved with respect to desired pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects. They facilitate the delivery of the required immunosuppressive effect. However, the individual extent of desired and undesired effects of a particular biologic therapy can be broader than initially predicted and requires careful evaluation during clinical trials. This review highlights advances in the application of recombinant antibody technology for novel biologic therapies in rheumatology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Cologne, Joseph Stelzmann Street 9, 50931 Cologne, Germany. achim.rothe@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rothe
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubbert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D015202:Protein Engineering; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012219:Rheumatology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins