The difference of immune modification in rheumatoid arthritis patients between IL-6 blockade with tocilizumab and T cell inactivation with abatacept

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461481
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Collagenous pathology/Allergology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: MURAKAMI Miho 東京医科大学, 医学部, 助教(特任) (30595591)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): NISHIMOTO Norihiro 東京医科大学, 医学部, 兼任教授 (80273663)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 関節リウマチ / interleukin-6 / トシリズマブ / T細胞 / B細胞 / サイトカイン / CD4 / CD25

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Tocilizmab (TCZ) is a humanized anti-human IL-6 receptor antibody. We investigated whether IL-6 blockade with TCZ decreases the proportion of CD25+CD4+ T cells in ACPA positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. DAS28-ESR and SDAI were significantly reduced at 24 and 48 weeks of TCZ treatment compared with those at baseline. The proportion of CD4+ cells was significantly increased at 24 and 48 weeks compared with that at baseline. However, the proportion of CD25+CD4+ cells and that of regulatory T (Treg) cells in CD4+ cells were not significantly changed during TCZ treatment. Meanwhile, abatacept, a biologic blocking T cell co-stimulation, decreased the proportion of CD25+CD4+ T cells but not that of Treg cells in CD4+ cells in ACPA positive RA patients. In conclusions, IL-6 blockade has therapeutic effects on RA patients. Some other mechanisms, besides a decrease in CD4+ activation or an increase in Treg cell proportion, contribute the therapeutic effect of IL-6 blockade.

Free Research Field

免疫学