The therapeutic potential of anti-cytokine antibodies in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease

Abstract

The outcome of inflammatory diseases is likely to be dependent upon the relative balance of pro- versus anti-inflammatory cytokines. Control of this balance through the use of anti-cytokine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) promises to be an effective means of disease therapy. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with anti- tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) mAb has dramatically ameliorated disease symptoms, indicating that such a treatment approach can be highly successful. Similarly, based on animal studies, the use of neutralising anti-interleukin (IL)-12 mAb may prove efficacious in a number of inflammatory disorders, particularly for IBD.

• anti-cytokine monoclonal antibody therapy
• inflammatory bowel disease
• interleukin-12
• inflammation
• rheumatoid arthritis
• tumour necrosis factor α