[Proteomic analysis of changes in the serum protein profile by anti-TNF-alpha therapy]

We analyzed the alternation in serum protein by infliximab therapy using proteomics-based technique. More than 50 gel spots were seen to increase or decrease in correlation with clinical improvements of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Spots of interest were identified by two dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Infliximab therapy reduced the inflammatory proteins such as C-reactive protein, serum amyloid protein A, serum amyloid protein P, and alpha1-acid glycoprotein, while the therapy increased Apo A-I, retinol-binding protein, vitamin D-binding protein, and gelsolin. This suggested that infliximab therapy shifted the inflammatory status of serum protein profile of RA patients to normal and modified the extracellular actin-scavenging system as well as vitamin and lipid profile.