title: Cytokines in the rheumatic diseases.
abstract: Extensive data has accumulated over the last 10 to 15 years to implicate various cytokines in pathways of pathophysiology in rheumatic diseases. Abnormalities in cytokine production are not the cause of these diseases, but reflect continual production by immune and inflammatory cells. Cytokines are heterogeneous and function in an overlapping and redundant network. An important principle to emerge is that the net biologic response in a diseased organ or tissue reflects a balance between the local levels of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and factors. Thus, a chronic disease may result from the excess production of proinflammatory cytokines or the inadequate production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. This article summarizes the role of cytokines in rheumatic diseases by focusing on each disease and the involved pathways of pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center B1115, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80262, USA. william.arend@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: William P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Arend
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators