S19-2 Effects of Eternercept (Enbrel) on RA Animal Models and Patients

INFα is a macrophage-derived cytokine with multiple inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. Elevated levels in sera and synovial fluid from RA patients suggested that TNFα plays a central role for pathology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammations associated with RA, inhibition of TNFa activity may improve symptoms and disorders of RA. Enbrel is a recombinant human soluble p75TNFR-II Fc fusion protein and has been developed for RA treatment. Enbrel has been used in US from 1998 and in EU from 2000, the efficacy has been known well. In animal models, Enbrel inhibited adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats and type II collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Pharmacological actions of Eabrel on inhibition of TNFα activities are clear, the actions are shown in some studies based on both endotoxin shock models in vivo and binding assay to TNFα in vitro. Additionally, the efficacy of Enbrel on RA patients will be discussed.