title: Evidence that cytokines play a role in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: A large number of cytokines are active in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is now clear that these cytokines play a fundamental role in the processes that cause inflammation, articular destruction, and the comorbidities associated with RA. Following the success of TNF-alpha blockade as a treatment for RA, other cytokines now offer alternative targets for therapeutic intervention or might be useful as predictive biomarkers of disease. In this Review, we discuss the biologic contribution and therapeutic potential of the major cytokine families to RA pathology, focusing on molecules contained within the TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, IL-23, and IL-2 families.
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College London, London, UK. f.brennan@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Fionula M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Iain B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: McInnes
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007596:Joints / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha