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Review
. 2002 Nov-Dec;20(6 Suppl 28):S34-7.

Immunological basis for the use of TNFalpha-blocking agents in ankylosing spondylitis and immunological changes during treatment

J X Zou  1 , J Braun, J Sieper
Affiliations
  • PMID: 12463444
Review

Immunological basis for the use of TNFalpha-blocking agents in ankylosing spondylitis and immunological changes during treatment

J X Zou et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2002 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

TNFalpha is expressed in high amounts at the site of inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis, which provided the basis to initiate treatment studies with TNF-blocking agents. We could show that the immunological effects of infliximab and etanercept differ in patients with AS, although the clinical effect was similarly good. While infliximab induced a downregulation of the production of the T-helper 1-cytokines IFNgamma and TNFalpha, etanercept treatment triggered rather an upregulation of these cytokines secreted by T cells after in vitro stimulation.

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