Cytokines and interventional immunology

Abstract

Alterations in cytokine expression associated with inflammation have long been observed in individuals with immune-mediated disease. Clinical trials carried out almost a decade ago were the first to show that therapeutic manipulation of cytokines with monoclonal antibodies targeting tumour-necrosis factor could change the course of an autoimmune disease. With this finding, the modern era of interventional immunology emerged. © 2007 Nature Publishing Group.