Anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment increases circulating T helper type 17 cells similarly in different types of inflammatory arthritis

Clin Exp Immunol. 2015 Sep;181(3):401-6. doi: 10.1111/cei.12626. Epub 2015 Jun 23.

Abstract

We investigated changes in circulating T helper type 17 (Th17) cells following anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from 25 RA, 15 AS and eight PsA patients at baseline 4 and 12 weeks after treatment, and Th17 cell frequencies were analysed using interleukin (IL)-17 enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) and flow cytometry. A significant increase in IL-17-producing cells was observed by ELISPOT in RA and AS patients at 12 weeks. Flow cytometry confirmed significant increases in CD4(+) IL-17(+) cells at 12 weeks in RA and AS and 4 weeks in PsA patients. Anti-TNF treatment increases circulating Th17 cells in three different diseases.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01060098.

Keywords: T cells; ankylosing spondylitis; anti-TNF; psoriatic arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adalimumab
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Psoriatic / blood
  • Arthritis, Psoriatic / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / blood
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Etanercept
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use
  • Interleukin-17 / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / therapeutic use
  • Spondylitis, Ankylosing / blood
  • Spondylitis, Ankylosing / drug therapy*
  • Th17 Cells / drug effects*
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-17
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Adalimumab
  • Etanercept

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01060098