BACKGROUND: Crohn disease is characterized by up-regulated intestinal inflammation mainly caused by increased tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels. However, the complement system (C) may also have a role in maintaining inflammation. METHODS: Plasma from 26 patients with Crohn disease complicated by fistulizing ano-rectal disease was collected before and after three Infliximab infusions (5 mg kg(-1)). RESULTS: Before treatment, the C3-activation capacities (C3-AC) in plasma from patients with Crohn disease were comparable with values obtained from healthy controls. The classical C pathway-mediated C3-AC, mannan-binding lectin C4-AC, leucocyte count, C-reactive protein concentration and Crohn Disease Activity Index decreased significantly 8 weeks after the first infusion of Infliximab (P < 0.04, Wilcoxon test). CONCLUSIONS: Before treatment, all three C pathways were within the normal range in plasma from patients with Crohn disease; the decrease observed in the classical pathway-mediated C3-AC after treatment with Infliximab reflects a general down-regulation in immune activation.
BACKGROUND:Crohn disease is characterized by up-regulated intestinal inflammation mainly caused by increased tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels. However, the complement system (C) may also have a role in maintaining inflammation. METHODS: Plasma from 26 patients with Crohn disease complicated by fistulizing ano-rectal disease was collected before and after three Infliximab infusions (5 mg kg(-1)). RESULTS: Before treatment, the C3-activation capacities (C3-AC) in plasma from patients with Crohn disease were comparable with values obtained from healthy controls. The classical C pathway-mediated C3-AC, mannan-binding lectin C4-AC, leucocyte count, C-reactive protein concentration and Crohn Disease Activity Index decreased significantly 8 weeks after the first infusion of Infliximab (P < 0.04, Wilcoxon test). CONCLUSIONS: Before treatment, all three C pathways were within the normal range in plasma from patients with Crohn disease; the decrease observed in the classical pathway-mediated C3-AC after treatment with Infliximab reflects a general down-regulation in immune activation.
Authors: Christina Hoffmann; Peter Hoffmann; Andreas Lun; Carsten Büning; Falk Hiepe; Hans U Scherer; Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen; Andreas Weimann Journal: Immunogenetics Date: 2010-02-25 Impact factor: 2.846
Authors: E Nissilä; K Korpela; A I Lokki; R Paakkanen; S Jokiranta; W M de Vos; M-L Lokki; K-L Kolho; S Meri Journal: Clin Exp Immunol Date: 2017-09-25 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Erik Zimmermann-Nielsen; Henning Grønbaek; Jens Frederik Dahlerup; Gunnar Baatrup; Ole Thorlacius-Ussing Journal: BMC Gastroenterol Date: 2005-09-22 Impact factor: 3.067