Treatment with anti-TNF monoclonal antibody (c5N) reduces the extent of induced endometriosis in the baboon

H Falconer, Henrik Falconer, J M Mwenda, Daniel Chai, D C Chai, C Wagner, Carrie Wagner, X Y Song, X.-Y. R. Song, Attila Mihalyi, A Mihalyi, P Simsa, Péter Simsa, C Kyama, Cleophas Kyama, Freddy Cornillie, F J Cornillie, A Bergqvist, Agneta Bergqvist, G Fried, Gerald M. Fried, Thomas D’Hooghe, T M D'Hooghe
Human Reproduction · 2006 · vol. 21(7) , pp. 1856–1862 · doi:10.1093/humrep/del044 · PMID:16517562 · W2164527973
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Treatment with anti-TNF monoclonal antibody c5N significantly reduced the extent of induced endometriosis in baboons, primarily by decreasing the number and surface area of red lesions.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), are important in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We assessed the efficacy of anti-TNF monoclonal antibody (mAb, c5N), known to prevent induced endometriosis in baboons, in reducing established endometriosis in baboons. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled study was conducted in baboons at the Institute of Primate Research (IPR), Nairobi, Kenya. Endometriosis was induced in 18 adult female baboons (Papio anubis) with regular menstrual cycles and a normal pelvis; the extent of endometriosis was documented by videolaparoscopy 25 days later. The baboons were then randomly assigned to receive a single infusion of either placebo (n=7, 5 ml/kg) or c5N (n=11, 5 mg/kg). Follow-up laparoscopy was performed 25 days later to document any differences in the number, surface area and estimated volume of lesions between the two groups and between the first and the second laparoscopies in each group. Representative biopsies of at least one endometriotic lesion per baboon were obtained at the final laparoscopy. RESULTS: Significant reductions in total surface area, estimated total volume of endometriotic lesions and both number and surface area of red lesions were observed after treatment with c5N, but not after placebo treatment, when compared to the initial laparoscopy. Conversely, a significant increase in the number of typical and red lesions was observed after placebo treatment when compared to the initial laparoscopy. Neither c5N nor placebo treatment affected the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION: In baboons with induced endometriosis, anti-TNF-mAb (c5N) treatment significantly reduced the extent of endometriosis, mainly due to reducing both the number and surface area of red lesions. These findings suggest that anti-TNF-mAb therapy may have therapeutic potential for active peritoneal endometriosis.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Antibodies, Monoclonal Endometriosis Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Animals Antibodies, Monoclonal Disease Models, Animal Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Papio anubis Tissue Adhesions Tissue Adhesions Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

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