title: [Rheumatoid arthritis - pathogenetic role of neuroendocrine axes and the peripheral nervous system].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Local innate and adaptive immune processes are of importance during the acute phase of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the advanced inflammatory phase alterations of systemic anti-inflammatory feedback mechanisms might be important features which may support chronic inflammation.
  Similarly, like in other chronic inflammatory diseases, inadequately low cortisol and androgen serum levels can be detected in RA patients. In addition, there is a marked reduction of anti-inflammatory sympathetic nerve fibers in the inflamed joints paralleled by an enhanced number of pro-inflammatory sensory nerve fibers. Thus, an uncoupling of synergistically acting endocrine and neuronal, anti-inflammatory mechanisms (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, androgens, sympathetic neurotransmitters) and a preponderance of pro-inflammatory mechanisms (estrogens, sensory neurotransmitters) may lead to chronic inflammatory disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From this pathogenetic point of view new therapeutic strategies could be developed for the treatment of patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: Labor für Neuroendokrinimmunologie, Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Universität Regensburg.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Härle
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cutolo
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schölmerich
authors.forename: Rainer H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Straub
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007596:Joints / Q000294:innervation; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone