This animation describes what anti-TNF-alpha therapies are, how they work, and how patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can benefit.
Chronic inflammation in ibd and how anti-tnf therapy works the immune system is composed of a network of cells that work together to defend the body against infections and disease cells in the immune system can cause inflammation to eliminate an infection in the body once the infection has been cleared the immune defenses begin to wind down and switch off until
The next infection signals them to switch back on one theory is that the immune system does not respond to the body’s off switch in people with inflammatory bowel disease ibd leading to an overactive immune system and chronic inflammation in the gut this chronic inflammation is spurred on by a large imbalance of chemicals called cytokines which act as on signals
To cause inflammation another theory of ibd is that the immune system is constantly being stimulated and therefore is always in an activated state although the cause is not known one of the major signals of inflammation is a cytokine known as tumor necrosis factor alpha or tnf alpha which is produced by some cells of the immune system when tnf alpha is released
From cells it interacts with other cells through tnf receptors on the surface of those cells which results in inflammation this inflammation contributes to the development and persistence of the ulcers in the gut that caused the symptoms of ibd controlling inflammation is critical to maintaining good health improving quality of life and reducing the chance of
Needing surgery one way to reduce inflammation is by modifying or suppressing the immune system through medications medications that modify the normal response of the immune system are called immunomodulators and those that specifically target and suppress the effects of tnf alpha are known as anti tnf agents anti tnf agents are part of a class of medications known
As biologic therapies modifying or suppressing the immune system can restore balance in the system and therefore prevent ongoing damage reducing the amount of tnf alpha that is circulating in the blood is associated with the reduction of inflammation in ibd and improvement in the disease symptoms anti-tnf medications work by attaching to free-floating tnf-alpha
Outside of cells as well as transmembrane tnf-alpha found on the cell surface because it is attached to the anti tnf medication tnf alpha is unable to interact with its receptors on the surface of cells in the gut to cause inflammation examples of anti tnf medications used in ibd include infliximab adalimumab and sir to live zoom ab peggle these drugs have each
Shown to be effective in reducing signs and symptoms of inflammation in crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in fact inflammation and ulcers can be healed within a few weeks in some patients taking anti-tnf therapy by binding to tnf alpha these medications can reduce inflammation in the gut caused by tnf alpha some patients greatly benefit from anti-tnf therapy
Regular treatment with some anti tnf agents may reduce the number of hospitalizations by half and decrease the number of surgeries in patients with crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis however as with any medication it is important to understand the side-effects the most common risk of anti-tnf therapy is losing response to the drug which can happen in as many
As 50% of patients after one year of treatment there are a variety of ways to prevent loss of response but one of the most important is staying on a regular schedule of infusions in this animation we have reviewed how anti-tnf therapy works however there are many other therapies in development that target additional molecules involved in inflammation
Transcribed from video
Chronic Inflammation in IBD and How Anti-TNF Therapy Works By Animated IBD Patient
