Causal Modeling Using Network Ensemble Simulations of Genetic and Gene Expression Data Predicts Genes Involved in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Figure 6
Modulation CD86 predicted to affect both tender and swollen joint counts in TNF-α treated patients.
Plots of simulated number of tender joints, swollen joints, pain and C-reactive protein concentrations in response to a 10-fold knockdown in gene expression of CD86, the target of abatacept (CTLA4-Ig), in A. pretreated subjects and B. TNF-α blocker treated subjects. The modulation of tender joints is only predicted in TNF-α treated patients, suggesting both a mechanism that is independent of TNF-α signaling that could be exploited for subjects that do not respond well to TNF-α blocker therapies.