Single high-dose treatment with glucosaminyl-muramyl dipeptide is ineffective in treating ankylosing spondylitis.

Abstract

Earlier studies have shown that high doses of TNF-alpha increase apoptosis in human autoimmune T-cell clones. Based on these studies, a treatment approach was proposed to reduce or eliminate autoimmune T cells in patients with type 1 diabetes using drugs that temporarily elevate TNF levels. Here, we report the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis patient with a single high oral dose of Likopid (glucosaminyl-muramyl dipeptide), which aimed at increasing the levels of TNF-alpha in order to induce apoptosis of autoreactive T cells. The flow cytometric analysis of blood samples collected before and after treatment demonstrated massive elimination of CD8(+) T cells. However, the treatment did not result in any notable therapeutic effect, and real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that stably expanded T-cell clones that were earlier tracked in this patient were unaffected. This report suggests that the controversial approach to eliminate autoimmune T-cell clones through overstimulation is not effective in treating ankylosing spondylitis.

• Authors: Olga V Britanova, Dmitriy B Staroverov, Anna V Chkalina, Alexei A Kotlobay, Ekaterina S Zvezdova, Anna G Bochkova, Dmitriy M Chudakov
• Journal: Rheumatology international (Rheumatol Int) Vol. 31 Issue 8 Pg. 1101-3 (Aug 2011) ISSN: 1437-160X [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 21116819 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Antirheumatic Agents
• Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine
• glucosaminylmuramyl-2-alanine-D-isoglutamine
• Adalimumab

Topics

• Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Adalimumab
• Adjuvants, Immunologic (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (therapeutic use)
• Antirheumatic Agents (therapeutic use)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (drug effects, pathology)
• Cell Death (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Leukocyte Count
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Spondylitis, Ankylosing (drug therapy)
• T-Lymphocyte Subsets (drug effects, pathology)
• Treatment Failure