ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of TNF-α antagonist (etanercept) treatment on the peripheral T cell reactivity of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 40 patients with AS at baseline, after two and six weeks of etanercept treatment or placebo and from healthy controls. The number of cells that secret TNF-α,IL-2 and IFN-γwas respectively detected by ELISPOT. CD+/CD8+ T cell proliferation was assayed with WST-1 live cell staining method. Results After 2 and 6 weeks of etanercept treatment, the number of TNF-α secreting monocytes was decreased. Although the T cell proliferation rate was not reduced, the number of T cells secreting IL-2 and IFN-γ under anti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulation was significantly decreased. Conclusion The anti-TNF-α therapy suppresses the functions of effector T cells. The reduced T cell reactivity may contribute to the efficacy of the TNF-α antagonist therapy in AS patients.