CTLA4-Ig interacts with cultured synovial macrophages from rheumatoid arthritis patients and downregulates cytokine production

Abstract

Optimal concentrations of CTLA4-Ig for the CTLA4-Ig/B7.2 masking on activated macrophages were identified and were found to induce significant downregulation in the cell production of IL-6, TNFalpha, IL1-beta and TGFbeta. In conclusion, macrophages would appear to be a sensitive target for CTLA4-Ig treatment in RA.