RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Apoptosis as a Mechanism of Action of Tumor Necrosis Factor Antagonists in Rheumatoid Arthritis
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 679
OP 685
DO 10.3899/jrheum.110974
VO 39
IS 4
A1 DIMITRIOS MAKRYGIANNAKIS
A1 ANCA IRINEL CATRINA
YR 2012
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/39/4/679.abstract
AB Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists are drugs developed to block endogenous TNF, an essential proinflammatory molecule with a central role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although extensive studies have been performed concerning the mode of action of TNF-blocking agents, there are still many unresolved questions and potential differences between different TNF-blocking drugs. One unresolved issue is to what extent apoptosis is affected by TNF blockade in RA. We provide an overview of studies that have investigated the proapoptotic effect of different anti-TNF drugs in RA, searching for a unified interpretation of somewhat contradictory data.