TWEAKing RA

In addition to TNF inhibitors, the ranks of biologics used to treat rheumatoid arthritis now include drugs that target T and B cells. The treatments use different mechanisms, but the common thread is that all are systemic immune modulators. Last week, researchers at Biogen Idec Inc. and colleagues published a more joint-specific approach to treating RA via inhibition of TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK).

As the name suggests, TWEAK is a member of the TNF family, and its function is to stimulate angiogenesis and inflammatory proteins. In the paper, published in The Journal of Immunology, researchers showed that anti-TWEAK treatment reduced angiogenesis in the synovial tissues; i.e., the formation of new blood vessels thought to contribute to RA. ...