title: Rheumatoid arthritis: Biological therapy other than anti-TNF.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases and is characterized by synovitis that causes joint damage. The introduction of biologic agents has made it possible to induce remission in many patients and inhibit joint damage. Activated T cells in RA patients proliferate and stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 that play important roles in RA pathogenesis. The most widely used biologic agents indicated for RA inhibit the activity of TNF. However, newly developed biologic drugs targeting different pathways are now currently part of the therapeutic options to induce remission in patients with RA. The present review focuses on biologic agents directed at molecular targets different from TNF and addresses the possible advantages of these drugs.
authors.affiliation: Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases (CMID), Department of Rare, Immunologic, Hematologic and Immunohematologic Diseases, Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases (CMID), Department of Rare, Immunologic, Hematologic and Immunohematologic Diseases, Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Modena
authors.affiliation: Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases (CMID), Department of Rare, Immunologic, Hematologic and Immunohematologic Diseases, Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Savino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sciascia
authors.affiliation: Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases (CMID), Department of Rare, Immunologic, Hematologic and Immunohematologic Diseases, Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: dario.roccatello@unito.it.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roccatello
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001691:Biological Therapy; D006801:Humans; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D000069594:Abatacept; C502936:tocilizumab
keywords: Abatacept; Anti-IL6; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rituximab; Tocilizumab