Reduction in serum levels of substance P in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor

Mod Rheumatol. 2011 Jun;21(3):244-50. doi: 10.1007/s10165-010-0384-5. Epub 2010 Dec 29.

Abstract

We determined the effects of etanercept on the serum concentrations of neuropeptides in RA patients. In a total of 11 patients who had been injected with etanercept, the serum levels of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) were analyzed. Average levels of serum substance P were significantly reduced from 1.53 to 0.62 ng/ml after the injection of etanercept. In the CGRP and GRP analyses, these average levels dropped from 1.57 and 0.51 ng/ml to 0.44 and 0.04 ng/ml, respectively. Etanercept appears to decrease substance P levels with an improvement in disease activities.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / metabolism*
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / blood
  • Etanercept
  • Female
  • Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / blood
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Substance P / blood*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Substance P
  • Gastrin-Releasing Peptide
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
  • Etanercept