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OBJECTIVE: To define the mechanisms of action of 2 novel drugs, cyclosporine and anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), in collagen-induced arthritis and to determine the effect of combination therapy. METHODS: Type II collagen-immunized DBA/1 mice with established arthritis were treated with cyclosporine alone, anti-TNFalpha alone, cyclosporine plus anti-TNFalpha, or saline. RESULTS: Cyclosporine was found to ameliorate arthritis, suppress interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) production by CD4+ T cells, and reduce TNFalpha expression in arthritic joints. However, cyclosporine did not directly inhibit TNFalpha production by macrophages, indicating that the decrease in TNFalpha expression observed in vivo was probably an indirect consequence of the reduction in type 1 T helper cell activity. Anti-TNFalpha also reduced IFNgamma production by T cells, indicating that TNFalpha is involved in the cellular immune response to collagen. Combined treatment with cyclosporine plus anti-TNFalpha had an additive therapeutic effect. CONCLUSION: Although cyclosporine and anti-TNFalpha target different points in the inflammatory pathway, there is an overlap in the consequences of their actions in vivo.

Original publication

DOI

10.1002/1529-0131(199810)41:10<1806::AID-ART12>3.0.CO;2-9

Type

Journal article

Journal

Arthritis rheum

Publication Date

10/1998

Volume

41

Pages

1806 - 1812

Keywords

Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Arthritis, Experimental, Collagen, Cyclosporine, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Therapy, Combination, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred DBA, Th1 Cells, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha