Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 3, 2025

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

338

G-Protein-Coupled Receptors in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Recent Insights into Mechanisms and Functional Roles

Jianan Zhao1,2,3, Kai Wei1,2,3, Ping Jiang1,2,3

  • 1Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Frontiers in Immunology
|July 25, 2022
PubMed

Insights

New research explores G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as potential drug targets for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Targeting GPCRs could offer novel treatments for RA patients unresponsive to current therapies, addressing inflammation and joint damage.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology and Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease causing joint damage and disability.
  • Current RA therapies are insufficient for some patients, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
  • G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are implicated in various biological processes relevant to RA pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of diverse GPCRs in rheumatoid arthritis mechanisms.
  • To summarize current clinical trials targeting GPCRs for RA treatment.
  • To provide a basis for developing innovative GPCR-based drugs for RA.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on GPCRs and RA.
  • Analysis of GPCR involvement in RA-related pathways (inflammation, metabolism, angiogenesis, bone destruction).
  • Summary of ongoing and completed clinical trials for GPCR-targeted RA therapies.

Main Results:

  • GPCRs, including chemokine, melanocortin, lipid metabolism, and adenosine receptors, significantly influence RA.
  • These receptors modulate key RA mechanisms like inflammation, lipid metabolism, angiogenesis, and bone destruction.
  • Clinical trials targeting GPCRs show promise for RA treatment development.

Conclusions:

  • GPCRs represent a promising class of targets for novel rheumatoid arthritis therapies.
  • Targeting specific GPCRs offers a potential strategy to overcome limitations of existing RA treatments.
  • Further research and clinical development of GPCR-based drugs are warranted for RA management.
Keywords:
G-protein-coupled receptorsangiogenesisbone destructioninflammationlipid metabolismrheumatoid arthritis

More Related Videos

Preliminary Study on Acupuncture Combined with Grain-sized Moxibustion for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with Finger Joint Pain04:50

Preliminary Study on Acupuncture Combined with Grain-sized Moxibustion for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with Finger Joint Pain

Published on: May 16, 2025

323
Author Spotlight: Isolation and Culture of Primary Synovial Macrophages and Fibroblasts from Murine Arthritis Tissue09:18

Author Spotlight: Isolation and Culture of Primary Synovial Macrophages and Fibroblasts from Murine Arthritis Tissue

Published on: February 24, 2023

8.3K

Related Concept Videos

G Protein-coupled Receptors01:15

G Protein-coupled Receptors

G Protein-Coupled Receptors or GPCRs are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to sensory stimuli such as light, odors, hormones, cytokines, or neurotransmitters.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
13.0K
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
9.2K
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS01:11

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
14.1K
Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors01:30

Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors

G Protein–Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to various stimuli. GPCRs regulate critical physiological pathways and are excellent drug targets for treating diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, depression, or Alzheimer's. Nearly 35% of approved drugs implement their therapeutic effects by selectively interacting with specific GPCRs.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical,...
2.3K
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
121.0K
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...
1.4K