[Bone and cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis]

Clin Calcium. 2012 Feb;22(2):179-85.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammation-mediated bone disease characterized by local joint inflammation which results from systemic immune responses. It is essential to clarify the mechanisms by which inflammation elicits bone destruction for the establishment of novel therapeutic strategies. Advances in osteoimmunology, in addition to the development of a various kind of genetically-modified mice and animal models of RA, have greatly contributed to our understanding of these mechanisms. Recently, Th17 cells have been shown to contribute not only to the initiation and amplification of inflammation in RA, but also to bone destruction by enhancing osteoclast differentiation through the interaction with synovial fibroblasts. Thus, Th17-synovial fibroblasts interaction is considered to be a promising therapeutic target for RA.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / therapy
  • Bone and Bones / immunology
  • Bone and Bones / pathology*
  • Cartilage / immunology
  • Cartilage / pathology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Fibroblasts / immunology
  • Fibroblasts / physiology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Osteoclasts / cytology
  • Osteoclasts / immunology
  • RANK Ligand
  • Synovial Membrane / cytology
  • Th17 Cells / immunology
  • Th17 Cells / physiology

Substances

  • RANK Ligand