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Immunology of reactive arthritides
G R Burmester1, A Daser, T Kamradt
1Department of Medicine III (Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology), Charité University Hospital, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Annual Review of Immunology
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Reactive arthritis and Lyme arthritis are chronic joint inflammation diseases triggered by bacterial infections. Understanding their immunopathology, particularly T cell responses and cytokine patterns, is key to developing effective treatments.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Reactive arthritis (ReA) and Lyme arthritis are chronic inflammatory joint diseases.
- They share immunopathological similarities with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- Unlike RA, ReA and Lyme arthritis are triggered by specific bacterial infections, though the reasons for developing chronic arthritis remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey the immunology of ReA and Lyme disease, focusing on T cells.
- To compare Th1/Th2 cytokine patterns in RA and ReA.
- To discuss the role of HLA B27 and epidemiological factors in chronic ReA.
Main Methods:
- Review of immunological mechanisms in ReA and Lyme arthritis.
- Analysis of T cell responses and cytokine profiles.
- Examination of genetic (HLA B27) and epidemiological data.
Main Results:
- Bacterial infections trigger ReA and Lyme arthritis, but chronic development is rare and poorly understood.
- Contrasting Th1 and Th2 cytokine patterns are observed in RA and ReA.
- The role of T cells and HLA B27 in disease pathogenesis is highlighted.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the triggers and immune responses in ReA and Lyme arthritis offers insights into chronic inflammatory diseases.
- Further research, including prospective studies in diverse settings, is needed to elucidate disease chronicity.
- The study provides a comprehensive overview of the immunology of these conditions and discusses potential therapeutic targets.