Soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) receptor (Enbrel) as an effective therapeutic strategy in chronic severe asthma

TNF-α as a promising therapeutic target in chronic asthma: a lesson from rheumatoid arthritis

“…All three patients showed an important clinical improvement whilst on infliximab and discontinued use of their maintenance inhaled corticosteroids. The notion that inhibition of TNF-α may be of prime importance in the control of airway inflammation with improved asthma outcomes was emphasized by subsequent observations by other researchers who added etanercept (Enbrel) in the management plan of ten patients maximally treated for chronic severe asthma [55]. In this small open trial, 25 mg of etanercept administered subcutaneously twice a week for a period of 12 weeks clearly improved lung function and had an important impact on the overall asthma symptoms scores, with all but one patient voluntarily withdrawing completely from the use of their regular bronchodilators by the end of the study.…”

The Relationship Between Asthma and COPD

“…20 In contrast, Th1-dominated responses, including the enhanced production of interferon (IFN)-␥ by CD8 ϩ cells, have been documented in COPD patients. 24 In addition, increased levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 have been documented in COPD patients. However, studies 22,23 of asthmatic patients also have demonstrated increased levels of TNF, and polymorphisms have been shown to correlate with the presence of asthma in some populations.…”

Cytokine and anti-cytokine therapy for the treatment of asthma and allergic disease

“…54 On this basis, we have undertaken a small open study involving 15 patients with severe asthma requiring a mean dose of inhaled corticosteroid equivalent to 2500 µg/day BDP, a mean daily oral dose of prednisolone 12.1 mg/day, long-acting inhaled α 2 -adrenergic receptor agonists and regular nebulized salbutamol. 55 After a baseline period, patients were entered into a therapeutic trial of etanercept, a fusion protein consisting of the extracellular ligand-binding portion of the high-affinity human 75 kDa TNF-α receptor linked to the fc-portion of human IgG1. Etanercept serves as a decoy to inhibit both the binding of free TNF-α and TNF-α to cell-associated TNF receptors, thereby rendering extracellular TNF biologically inactive.…”