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An evaluation of anti-TNF-alpha-therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: imbalanced activation of NF kappa B subunits in lymphocytes and modulation of serum cortisol concentration

Rheumatology International volume 27, pages 841–846 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) during the course of infliximab therapy. The molecular effects were evaluated using lymphocytes and sera that were isolated before therapy began, then again after 2 and 12 weeks from 17 AS patients and compared to those of 24 healthy control individuals. All 17 AS patients responded to treatment with infliximab as assessed using BASDAI. Elevated serum levels of IL-6, CRP and cortisol were reduced to normal levels by the 12 weeks time point. The level of DNA-binding p65 was decreased during the course of infliximab therapy whereas the level of DNA-binding p50 remained elevated until the 12 weeks time point. Taken together, Infliximab is an effective treatment for AS and results in decreased levels of the inflammation markers IL-6 and CRP, and of endogenous cortisol concentration. Unequal alterations in the levels of activated NF-κB subunits p50 and p65 might provide insights into the mechanisms of NF-κB action and anti-TNF-α therapy in AS.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Center of Rheumatology, Rostock Clinic South, Südring 81, 18059, Rostock, Germany

    Martin Eggert, Ulrike Seeck, Marco Semmler, Ulrich Maaß & Gunther Neeck

  2. BIOMEDRO Ltd at Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58-62, 35392, Gießen, Germany

    Martin Schulz & Helmut Dotzlaw

  3. MIPS/Institute of Bioinformatics, GSF, Research Center for Health and Environment, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Sabine Dietmann

Authors
  1. Martin Eggert
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  2. Ulrike Seeck
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  3. Marco Semmler
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  4. Ulrich Maaß
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  5. Sabine Dietmann
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  6. Martin Schulz
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  7. Helmut Dotzlaw
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  8. Gunther Neeck
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Correspondence to Gunther Neeck.

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Eggert, M., Seeck, U., Semmler, M. et al. An evaluation of anti-TNF-alpha-therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: imbalanced activation of NF kappa B subunits in lymphocytes and modulation of serum cortisol concentration. Rheumatol Int 27, 841–846 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-007-0303-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-007-0303-z

Keywords

  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Lymphocytes
  • NF-κB
  • Anti-TNF-α-therapy