[Abatacept in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis]

Abstract

Abatacept (CTLA4Ig) is a human fusion protein which consists of a cytotoxic lymphocytic-associated type 4 antigen which is bound to the Fc part of the IgG1. Abatacept binds to CD80/CD86 on antigen-presenting cells thus blocking the co-stimulatory signal to the naïve T cells and interfering with a central inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis signal pathway.