Interleukin-23: a promising therapeutic target in seronegative spondyloarthropathy

Particular therapeutic challenges are raised by the spondyloarthropathies which represent a key area of unmet medical need. Recent investigations have shown that these conditions are characterised both by altered responsiveness to interleukin(IL)-23 and expansion of IL-23 responsive cells as well as increased production of IL-23. The gut in particular has emerged as a key site of IL-23 production, and gut inflammation is known to be strongly clinically associated with these conditions. Moreover, HLA-B27, which is strongly associated with spondyloarthropathy, has also been shown to stimulate IL-23 production. The view is thus emerging that dysregulation of IL-23 biology is a unifying feature of spondyloarthropathy, suggesting that treatments targeting this cytokine are likely to be highly efficacious.