Comparative Clinical Trial of Antibodies to Interferon-Gamma (IFN-γ) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

In 1974, in Nature, one of us has proposed a radically new idea that led to the development of anticytokine therapy which is now used around the world for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. We were the first to use antibodies to IFN-γ and were some of the first to suggest using antagonists of TNF-α in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well. Our method suppresses one of the main pathogenetic mechanisms of these diseases. Antibodies to IFN-γ and TNF-α exhibit dramatic effects on clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, in our trial ultrasound assessment of the synovial membrane thickness in RA patients showed that only anti-IFN-γ exerted pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. Some patients who underwent treatment with antibodies to TNF-α developed a number of complications. Anticytokine therapy (mono- and poly-) alone or in combination with other drugs can possibly be used not only in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, but also in other pathologies with cytokine synthesis disturbances (a number of neurological, psychiatric, endocrine, and other diseases).