My research paper is about a cytokine --- Tumor necrosis factor alpha, which is involved in systemic inflammation and is found in high concentration in patients diagnosed with autoimmune disorders. The article chosen describes the effects caused by a change in the level of cytokine Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a). The cytokine TNF-a is a proinflammatory, recognized to encourage HIV-1 reproduction and is involved in the development of HIV-1 related infections. This study done on the blockage of the cytokine TNF-a by chimeric humanized monoclonal antibodies (CHMA). CHMA are created by the combination of heritable substance obtained from a non-Homo sapien origin (Rabbit or Rat) with genetic material from a human being. Using the CHMA -- anti-Carbonic Anhydrase II (cA2), as the inhibitor of TNF, the researchers were able to observe the effects of the this treatment given to six patients (2 Women and 4 men with an average age of 32) that had the HIV-1 virus and …show more content…
Patients that had common infections were declined to participate in the study. After 2 separate injections of serum containing the cA2 antibodies 14 days apart, researchers were able to study the concentration of TNF-a cytokines in relation to time of treatment with cA2 serum. All studies showed a significant decrease in the % of TNF-a found in the patients following their 2 injections. The median decrease in concentration of TNF-a for the first injection was 83% and 62% for the second. 1-2 weeks later the concentration of TNF-a had returned to baseline for all patients in the study. For patients with T-Cell concentration 100/mm3 there was an increase in concentration for 17 days following the first injection. No increase in concentration was