Multiple roles for tumor necrosis factor-α and lymphotoxin α/β in immunity and autoimmunity

Table 2 Diseases in which tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockade is therapeutic

Disease		Intervention	Result	Mechanism	Reference
1a.	Rheumatoid arthritis	Anti-TNF, soluble TNFR	65% of patients have a dramatic decrease in disease activity	Blockade of TNF-induced inflammatory response (? decreased macrophage activation)	[16]
1b.	Rheumatoid arthritis	Anti-TNF, soluble TNFR	Up to 15% of patients develop α-dsDNA antibodies. 0.2% develop mild SLE	? T-cell activation	[16]
1c.	Rheumatoid arthritis	Anti-TNF, soluble TNFR	A few patients develop CNS findings suggestive of MS	? T-cell activation	[17]
2.	Crohn's disease	Anti-TNF, soluble TNFR	Dramatic decrease in disease activity in up to 80% of patients	? Decreased monocyte/macrophage activation	[18]
3.	Psoriasis	Anti-TNF	Dramatic clearing of skin lesions, decrease in associated arthritis	Blockade of TNF-induced inflammation	[19]

CNS, central nervous system; MS, multiple sclerosis; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; TNFR, TNF receptor.

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