[Cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis. I. Proinflammatory cytokines]

Proinflammatory cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. It is why they became the targets for new therapies. In this review we describe their expression in synovial tissue, synovial fluid and in serum, and correlation with disease activity. Particular attention was paid to the possibilities of the alternative treatment strategies modifying the balance of cytokine network, in the rheumatoid arthritis patients, towards limiting their proinflammatory activity. Inhibiting the action of proinflammatory cytokines by using their specific inhibitors or anti-inflammatory cytokines have shown significant clinical benefits with mild side effects.