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Cytokines in the rheumatic diseases.
1Division of Rheumatology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center B1115, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80262, USA. william.arend@uchsc.edu
Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America
|April 6, 2004
Summary
Cytokines play a key role in rheumatic disease pathophysiology, not as a cause but as a reflection of immune cell activity. The balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines determines chronic disease development.
Area of Science:
- Immunology and Rheumatology
- Molecular Biology and Pathology
Background:
- Accumulated data over 10-15 years implicate cytokines in rheumatic disease pathophysiology.
- Cytokine abnormalities reflect, rather than cause, these chronic inflammatory conditions.
- Cytokines operate within a complex, overlapping, and redundant network.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the role of cytokines in the pathophysiology of various rheumatic diseases.
- To elucidate the specific cytokine pathways involved in each disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of extensive accumulated data over the last 10 to 15 years.
- Focus on individual rheumatic diseases and their associated pathophysiological pathways.
- Analysis of the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Main Results:
- Cytokine production is a continuous process by immune and inflammatory cells in rheumatic diseases.
- The net biologic response is determined by the local balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
- Chronic disease can arise from either excess pro-inflammatory or inadequate anti-inflammatory cytokine production.
Conclusions:
- Cytokines are critical mediators in the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases.
- Understanding the cytokine network balance is essential for comprehending disease progression.
- Targeting cytokine pathways holds potential for therapeutic interventions in rheumatic diseases.