title: MAPKs and their relevance to arthritis and inflammation.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which imbalances in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines promote the induction of autoimmunity, inflammation and joint destruction. The importance of inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of RA has been underscored by the success of biologics that act to block the effects of cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 or IL-6, in treating disease. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) have been implicated as playing key regulatory roles in the production of these pro-inflammatory cytokines and downstream signalling events leading to joint inflammation and destruction. This article reviews the evidence that MAPKs play important roles in the pathogenesis of RA and discusses their therapeutic potential as drug targets.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Infection and Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thalhamer
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Harnett
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases