PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - S Ehlers TI - Role of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in host defence against tuberculosis: implications for immunotherapies targeting TNF AID - 10.1136/ard.62.suppl_2.ii37 DP - 2003 Nov 01 TA - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases PG - ii37--ii42 VI - 62 IP - suppl 2 4099 - http://ard.bmj.com/content/62/suppl_2/ii37.short 4100 - http://ard.bmj.com/content/62/suppl_2/ii37.full SO - Ann Rheum Dis2003 Nov 01; 62 AB - Studies in mouse infection models clearly demonstrate tumour necrosis factor (TNF) to be a critical component of both the antibacterially protective and the inflammatory immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is therefore not surprising that treatment of patients—for example, those with rheumatoid arthritis—with biological agents interfering with TNF activity have shown an increased risk of reactivating tuberculosis. However, conceivably, TNF targeting biological agents can be developed that because of their particular mode of action and their specific pharmacodynamics may be less likely to have this side effect.