title: Clinical effects of tocilizumab on cytokines and immunological factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Interleukin (IL)-6 is one of the crucial proinflammatory cytokines. The dysregulation of IL-6 plays a pivotal role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is involved in several of the common clinical manifestations associated with active RA. Recent therapies targeting IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have resulted in clinical improvements in signs and symptoms, disability and quality of life in patients with early and long-standing RA. Because it has been demonstrated that cytokines and inflammatory/immunological factors appear to be important and sensitive mediators in RA patients treated with tocilizumab and with anti-TNF biologics, it is important to investigate whether tocilizumab administration has any effect(s) on the profiles of cytokines and inflammatory/immunological factors and whether these changes correlate with the clinical improvement in RA disease activity. In this review, we discuss the effects on cytokine regulation and the differentiation of immune cells, especially T cells, after tocilizumab therapy in patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Rheumatology, Showa University Kototoyosu Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: tkasama@med.showa-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasama
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isozaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miwa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C502936:tocilizumab
keywords: Biologics; Cytokines; IL-6; Immunological factors; Rheumatoid arthritis; Tocilizumab