0000000000718930
AUTHOR
Impastato R
Phenotype and functional changes of Vγ9/Vδ2 T lymphocytes in Behçet's disease and the effect of infliximab on Vγ9/Vδ2 T cell expansion, activation and cytotoxicity
Introduction: Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) that has been introduced recently for Behcet's disease (BD) patients who were resistant to standard treatment. The aim of this study was to analyse the functional changes of Vγ9/Vδ2 T lymphocytes in both active and inactive disease and the effect of infliximab on Vγ9/Vδ2 T cell expansion, activation and cytotoxicity. Methods: We investigated 1) cell expansion, 2) expression of TNFRII receptor, 3) perforin and gamma interferon (IFN) content, 4) release of granzyme A (GrA) and 5) phenotype changes, in vitro and in vivo, in Vγ9/Vδ2 T lymphocytes by means of fluorescence-activated cell sorter …
A 2-year comparative open label randomized study of efficacy and safety of etanercept and infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
The signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) respond inadequately to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs in quite a number of patients. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have demonstrated to be of value in reducing AS disease activity in clinical trials. The efficacy and safety of both etanercept and infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis were compared in a 2-year open label randomised study. Our results are consistent with a significant more rapid clinical improvement in the infliximab treated group. Treatment with both etanercept and infliximab at the end of the study was effective, safe, and well tolerated. ©…
Long-term anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy reverses the progression of carotid intima–media thickness in female patients with active rheumatoid arthritis
The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of TNF inhibition on carotid thickness over a 2-year period. 144 women with RA diagnosed according to ACR criteria, without clinical evidence of cardiac and/or vascular disease were enrolled and compared with 78 matched controls. All patients received methotrexate (15–20 mg weekly) for 3 months. Responders (n = 79) continued to be treated with methotrexate, non-responders (n = 40) moved to methotrexate plus a TNF alpha antagonist. Echosonographic studies of carotids were obtained before and after 2-year follow-up. A significant decrease of ca-IMT was observed in anti-TNF-treated patients (P < 0.001); on the other hand, no significant vari…
Blocking TNF in vitro with infliximab determines the inhibition of expansion and interferon gamma production of Vγ9/Vδ2 T lymphocytes from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. A role in the susceptibility to tuberculosis?
Side effects of TNF neutralisation - mostly infectious complications - were recognized, the most important being pulmonary tuberculosis infections. gamma/ d T cells contribute to protective immune response against mycobacterium tuberculosis.The aim of the present study was to assess the expansion capacity of Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells from (tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) positive and PPD negative) patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to examine the in vitro effect of infliximab on this lymphocyte subset.28 PPD negative RA patients were studied and compared with 14 PPD positive RA patients, 45 PPD-negative and 110 PPD-positive healthy volunteers. Cell separation, ex…
Pentoxifylline Inhibits Vγ9/Vδ2 T Lymphocyte Activation of Patients with Active Behçet's Disease in Vitro
The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) on T Vgamma9/Vdelta2 lymphocyte function in Behçets disease (BD). We investigated the effect of PTX on Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell expansion and expression of TNFRII receptor and perforin content before and after PTX addition by means of FACS analysis lymphocyte cultures from patients with active and inactive BD and healthy subjects. The addition of PTX at a concentration of 1 mg/ml determined a significant inhibition of cell expansion, a down regulation of TNF receptor expression and inhibited the PMA-induced degranulation of perforin. Taken together these data indicate that PTX is capable of interfering with Vgamm…