New approaches to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

T cell regulation and T cell clones in relation to synovial inflammation

“…Therefore, many approaches to a more specific therapy of RA are directed to a modulation of T cell function. Proposed therapy regimens include infusions of anti-T cell monoclonal antibodies [14], "T cell vaccination" [6] or pharmacological substances directed towards the action of IL-2 either on the production or receptor level [25]. Even though we still do not know the inciting antigen(s) in RA, there is room for hope that the study of the activated T cells will provide a better treatment for a still uncurable disease.…”

Drug combination therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus

“…Complement activity was determined by the method of Perrin et al [14]. The lymphocyte activity score represents the logarithm of the ratio of spontaneous IgG secretion (ng/#l)/IL-2 secretion (U/#I) [13].…”