To determine the influence of etanercept treatment on the number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) secreting immunoregulatory key cytokines and the correlation of these cell counts with treatment response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Nineteen patients with RA were treated with etanercept as monotherapy. Frequencies of PBMC secreting cytokines were determined by ELISPOT analysis before and after 9 months of therapy and compared with values for healthy controls (HC). The clinical outcome was assessed as defined by the ACR criteria.
Fifteen patients fulfilled the ACR20, seven patients the ACR50 and two patients the ACR70 criteria. Initially elevated numbers of tumour necrosis factor-alpha- and interleukin (IL)-1beta-secreting PBMC were reduced to HC levels, and normal or low numbers of IL-6- and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-secreting PBMC were reduced below HC levels. The number of IL-10-secreting PBMC did not differ from that in HC and did not change significantly over time. The pretreatment IFN-gamma:IL-10 ratio correlated to reduction in the tender and swollen joint counts.
Long-term treatment with etanercept in patients with RA significantly reduces the numbers of proinflammatory cytokine-secreting PBMC, while the number of IL-10-secreting cells is unaffected. Although the changes described did not affect the safety or efficacy of etanercept therapy, these alterations may account for the long-term systemic effects. The pretreatment IFN-gamma:IL-10 ratio may be of prognostic value in predicting the improvement in joint symptoms.