Evaluating tocilizumab safety and immunomodulatory effects under ocular HTLV-1 infection in vitro
June 27, 2024
Abstract
There is growing interest in evaluating the safety and therapeutic potential of existing treatments such as tocilizumab (TCZ), an IL-6 receptor antagonist used to treat inflammatory diseases. However, there have been reports of increased inflammation in patients with HTLV-1 uveitis after TCZ treatment, and its ocular safety in the HTLV-1 infected state remains unknown. This study focused on assessing the impact of TCZ on HTLV-1-infected ocular cells using an in vitro model in which retinal pigment epithelial cells were cocultured with irradiated HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines. TCZ did not significantly affect cellular viability, inflammatory markers, or HTLV-1 proviral loads at various concentrations (25/50/100 µg/ml), indicating no increased risk of HTLV-1 viral infection and no exacerbation of the inflammatory aspects of HTLV-1 infection in the ocular cells. These promising results support the potential of TCZ as a safe treatment option for HTLV-1-infected patients, particularly those with eye infections.
Journal Article
JOURNAL: International Immunopharmacology
TITLE: Evaluating tocilizumab safety and immunomodulatory effects under ocular HTLV-1 infection in vitro
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112460
TITLE: Evaluating tocilizumab safety and immunomodulatory effects under ocular HTLV-1 infection in vitro
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112460
Correspondence to
Koju Kamoi, Junior Associate Professor
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science,
Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,
Tokyo Medical and Dental University(TMDU)
E-mail:koju.oph(at)tmd.ac.jp
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