Future trends in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: cytokine targets

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 17, 2026

An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
07:37

An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice

Published on: June 6, 2025

F C Breedveld1

  • 1Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.

Rheumatology (Oxford, England)
|January 26, 2000
PubMed

Recently, anti-inflammatory cytokines and cytokine-blocking agents such as monoclonal antibodies, soluble receptors and receptor antagonists have been explored as therapeutic agents for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 10 (IL-10), which reverses the cartilage degradation induced by antigen-stimulated mononuclear cells, and IL-4, which reduces prostaglandin production by synoviocytes, are currently being tested for their clinical efficacy. Trials with the tumour necrosis factor alpha blocking agents infliximab (monoclonal antibody) and etanercept (the fusion protein of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors linked to human immunoglobulin) have produced improvements in clinical and laboratory measures of inflammation with mild side-effects. Trials of IL-1 blockade with recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist produced significant improvement of clinical parameters with mild side-effects. Blockade of IL-6, the cytokine that induces biosynthesis of acute-phase proteins, has been attempted with i.v. injections of anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibodies with improvement in clinical variables as well as reduced acute-phase proteins.

Related Concept Videos

T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF01:24

Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), a proinflammatory cytokine, contributes significantly to the inflammation seen in Crohn's disease. It exists as soluble TNF and membrane-bound TNF, with actions mediated through TNF receptors (TNFR). TNFR activation leads to the release of proinflammatory cytokines, T-cell activation, collagen production, and leukocyte migration, all contributing to inflammation in Crohn's disease. Anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies, namely infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira),...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents01:29

Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder marked by chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Various treatment strategies for Crohn's disease are employed, such as immunomodulatory agents, glucocorticoids, and biologics or anti-TNF therapy. Azathioprine (Imuran), a commonly used immunomodulatory drug for Crohn's disease, is converted in the body to mercaptopurine, which inhibits purine biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Both are utilized in severe cases of Inflammatory Bowel Disease...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management01:21

Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) management can be divided into two main strategies: prevention and long-term management.Primary PreventionPrimary prevention focuses on timely diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis to prevent acute rheumatic fever. The most widely used antibiotic for treating this condition is intramuscular benzathine penicillin G.Acute Rheumatic Fever TreatmentThe primary treatment goal for a patient diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever is to suppress the...
Mesenchymal Stem Cells01:19

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...