Serum levels of Adalimumab and anti-Adalimumab antibodies in Crohn's Disease patients

• Grant number: 21/04349-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Raquel Franco Leal
• Grantee: Ana Paula Menezes de Freitas Franceschini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, which etiology is not fully known yet, it can affect the gastrointestinal tract from the anus to the mouth, and its treatment remains under constant study. The pattern of CD lesions has a transmural and segmental characteristic, with the most commonly affected areas being the terminal ileum and colon. The etiopathogenesis of the disease is still uncertain, but it is known that there is an uncontrolled immune activity in susceptible individuals, which leads to an exacerbated inflammatory response, this being responsible for damaging the mucosa. Efficient forms of therapies are sought to induce and maintain remission of this disease reducing hospitalizations and the need for surgical intervention. In these circumstances, the use of biological therapy with totally humanized monoclonal antibodies, such as Adalimumab, appears as a promising alternative. The study of these drug actions is very pertinent, as it works by binding to tumor necrosis factors alpha (TNF-±) to block them, which proved to be efficient for inducing remission of the disease. Thus, the objective of the present study is the measurement of serum levels of this anti-TNF-± drug and the analysis of a possible immune response triggered because of the presence of Adalimumab in the peripheral blood from patients attended at the IBD outpatient clinic of the Gastrocentro/UNICAMP. The study may contribute for adjusting the therapeutic dosage and for explaining cases of patients who do not respond to treatment, consequently impacting in their quality of life.(AU)