Organic cation transporters OCT1 and OCT2 determine the accumulation of lamivudine in CD4 cells of HIV-infected patients.

Purpose: Identifying factors that determine concentrations of antiretroviral drugs in CD4 cells are important for improving therapeutic efficacy. Experimental models indicate that the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor lamivudine is transported by the organic cation transporters 1 and 2 (OCT1 and OCT2, respectively). Here, we tested whether OCT1 and OCT2 contribute to the uptake of lamivudine into native CD4 cells of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals.

Recombinant proteins in rheumatology - recent advances.

New targeted anti-inflammatory drugs have revolutionized the therapeutic strategies in rheumatology. Recombinant DNA selection technologies have enabled the isolation and humanization of specific antibody fragments of any specificity that can be 'armed' to deliver effective anti-inflammatory 'payloads'. Antibodies and other targeted provide the opportunity to block key soluble mediators of inflammation in their milieu, or alternatively to block intracellular inflammation-triggering pathways by binding to an upstream cell-surface receptor.

Drug combinations with methotrexate to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

MTX is still considered the anchor drug among the disease-modifying antirheumatic agents, and it is widely accepted as first line treatment in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The ultimate therapeutic goal in treatment of RA is remission or at least low disease activity and this goal may not always be achieved with MTX monotherapy. Over the last two decades drug combinations based on MTX have been used increasingly to treat patients with RA.

Soluble CSF interleukin 2 receptor as indicator of neurosarcoidosis.

Neurosarcoidosis (NS) represents an important differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, thus far no reliable laboratory marker of neurosarcoidosis exists. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2-R) distinguish NS and other inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system.