title: Immunological evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with itolizumab.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation that affects approximately 1% of the general population. Itolizumab, a monoclonal antibody specific for the human CD6 molecule mainly expressed on T lymphocytes, has been shown to inhibit proliferation of T cells and proinflammatory cytokine production in psoriasis patients. We have now assessed the immunological effect of itolizumab in combination with methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis by analyzing clinical samples taken from 30 patients enrolled in a clinical trial. T and B cell subpopulations were measured at different time points of the study. Plasma cytokine levels and anti-idiotypic antibody response to itolizumab were also evaluated. The combined treatment of itolizumab and methotrexate led to a reduction in the frequency of T cell subpopulations, and plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines showed a significant decrease up to at least 12 weeks after treatment ended. No anti-idiotypic antibody response was detected. These results support the relevance of the CD6 molecule as a therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.
authors.affiliation: a Center of Molecular Immunology ; Havana , Cuba.
authors.forename: Lazaro E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Aira
authors.affiliation: a Center of Molecular Immunology ; Havana , Cuba.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: b Diez de Octubre Hospital ; Havana , Cuba.
authors.forename: Dinorah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prada
authors.affiliation: c Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital ; Havana , Cuba.
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chico
authors.affiliation: b Diez de Octubre Hospital ; Havana , Cuba.
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: a Center of Molecular Immunology ; Havana , Cuba.
authors.forename: Zuyén
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: a Center of Molecular Immunology ; Havana , Cuba.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.affiliation: a Center of Molecular Immunology ; Havana , Cuba.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viada
authors.affiliation: a Center of Molecular Immunology ; Havana , Cuba.
authors.forename: Zaima
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mazorra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016207:Cytokines; C000597346:itolizumab; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: anti-idiotypic antibody response; itolizumab; peripheral lymphocytic counts; proinflammatory cytokines; rheumatoid arthritis