Give an overview of Rheumatoid Arthritis - Answer • Unknown cause but dysregulation
of pro-inflammatory cytokine production including TNF-alpha and IL-1 leading to joint
destruction appears to play a role
o These can effect osteoclast differentiation factor to cause bone destruction
o Or they can effect collagenase to cause cartilage destruction
• Although many cytokines are involved TNF-alpha is the apex of the cascade
• This is due to TNF-alpha being directly involved in
o Generation of osteoclasts activation of which causes bone loss
o proliferation of synoviocytes which generate mediators of the cascade
o Expression of collagenase by chondrocytes which leads to joint destruction
Give an overview of Crohn's Disease - Answer • Inflammatory disease of the intestine of
which the cause is unknown
• TNF-alpha is also highly elevated in Chrohn's
Give and overview of Infliximab and RA - Answer • Chimeric (mouse/human) IgG1
monoclonal Ab
o This binds to TNF-alpha with high affinity and specificity
• Used to treat long standing active RA patients who had failed all prior therapies
• Results showed decreases in pain, morning stiffness, tiredness, swollen joints and
markers of inflammation improving
o >50% of patients show that joint, cartilage and bone damage was arrested with around
50% showing evidence of bone repair
o When combined with MTX clinical trial data showed a 2x improvement over a number
of parameters when compared to those patients just on a placebo + MTX treatment
Give an overview of Infliximab and Crohn's - Answer • Shown in phase I/II trials that a
single infusion showed a 70% clinical improvement in patients with active steroid
resistant disease after 4 weeks in comparison with 17% in placebo controls
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