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MR Vol.12 No.3 indexに戻る
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MODERN RHEUMATOLOGY
Vol.12 No.3 |
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Leflunomide: an immunosuppressive drug with multiple
effects on T cell function |
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| P. Dimitrova , J. R. Kalden1, H. Schulze-Koops |
(1)Department of Internal Medicine III, University
of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
(2)Clinical Research Group III, Nikolaus Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine,
Glueckstrasse 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany |
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| Abstract |
| Abstract Leflunomide has recently been introduced
as a new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Although its immunosuppressive
effect has been well demonstrated in experimentally induced autoimmune
diseases and in organ transplant rejection in animal models, the
exact mechanisms mediating its immunomodulatory effect are not fully
understood. As T cells play a central role in the orchestration of
immune responses in both physiological and pathological conditions,
it has been proposed that the ability of leflunomide to suppress
inappropriate and unwanted immunity is related to a functional inhibition
of T cells. A precise knowledge of the mechanisms of leflunomide's
action on T cells is therefore necessary. As the clinical effect
of leflunomide has been well described elsewhere, this review will
focus on, and will discuss, current data on the different aspects
of leflunomide's effect on T cell function. |
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| Key words |
| Key words Autoimmunity ・ Immunomodulation
・ Rheumatoid arthritis ・ T cells |
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