title: Is spleen tyrosine kinase inhibition an effective therapy for patients with RA?
abstract: Despite the success of biologic therapeutic agents that target cytokines and lymphocytes, clinical needs remain unmet in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The development of small-molecule inhibitors that can block critical immune signal-transduction pathways are of particular interest as novel therapies for RA. Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) subserves the function of Fc receptors and the B-cell receptor; as such, it is attractive as a potential therapeutic target. Weinblatt and colleagues recently performed a proof-of-concept study, which demonstrated that inhibition of SYK reduced RA disease activity and levels of disease-relevant biomarkers. Dose-limiting adverse effects include diarrhea, neutropenia and hypertension, which result from both target-dependent and off-target effects. This novel study provides the first evidence that SYK could be a useful therapeutic target in RA.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology and Immunology at University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Axel J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hueber
authors.forename: Iain B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: McInnes