What is after cytokine-blocking therapy, a novel therapeutic target--synovial Epstein-Barr virus for rheumatoid arthritis.
There has been significant progress in cytokine-blocking therapy for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) However, inhibition of cytokines involved in immune defense raises severe side effects. The cost of cytokine-blocking treatment is another major issue. Why are levels of inflammatory cytokines increased in RA patients? We have a large amount of circumstantial and direct evidence for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in RA synovial cells. Here, we provide an overview of the implications for novel approaches to therapy for RA patients, based on the most recent available evidences of anti-viral agents.
Sawada
Shigemasa
S
Department of Rheumatology and Hematology, Nihon University Nerima Hikarigaoka Hospital, 2-11-1 Hikarigaoka Nerima-ku, Tokyo, Japan. sswd98@med.nihon-u.ac.jp <sswd98@med.nihon-u.ac.jp>
Takei
Masami
M
Inomata
Hirotake
H
Nozaki
Takamasa
T
Shiraiwa
Hidetaka
H
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D014212:Tretinoin