Effects of 2 different anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha agents in a primate model of subcutaneous abscess formation

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha exerts both physiologic and pathologic effects in response to infection, conferring the benefit of host defense against infection at the risk of eliciting severe pathology if the response is excessive or inappropriate. In the present study, the effects of an anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody (MAb) and a TNF-alpha receptor construct (p75-Fc) were compared with that of saline in a primate model of subcutaneous abscess induced with Staphylococcus aureus. Intravenous administration of anti-TNF-alpha MAb delayed the onset and reduced the incidence and the severity of abscess formation in response to inoculation with S. aureus at concentrations of 10(9) and 10(10) cfu/mL, compared with administration of saline. In contrast, no improvement in abscess formation was observed in animals treated with p75-Fc. These results supply initial evidence that anti-TNF-alpha MAb, unlike p75-Fc, provides a beneficial effect in this abscess model.