The role of interleukin-17 in mediating joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, persistent inflammatory joint disease with systemic involvement that affects about 1% of the world's population, that ultimately leads to the progressive destruction of joint. Effective medical treatment for joint destruction in RA is lacking because the knowledge about molecular mechanisms leading to joint destruction are incompletely understood. It has been confirmed that cytokine-mediated immunity plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases including RA. Recently, IL-17 was identified, which production by Th17 cells. IL-17 has proinflammatory properties and may promote bone and joint damage through induction of matrix metalloproteinases and osteoclasts. In mice, intra-articular injection of IL-17 into the knee joint results in joint inflammation and damage. In addition, it has been shown that blocking IL-17/IL-17R signaling is effective in the control of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and in the prevention of joint destruction. In this article, we will briefly discuss the biological features of IL-17/IL-17R and summarize recent advances on the role of IL-17/IL-17R in the pathogenesis and treatment of joint destruction in RA.
Li
Xia
X
The Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214041, China.
Yuan
Feng-lai
FL
Lu
Wei-guo
WG
Zhao
Yi-qing
YQ
Li
Cheng-wan
CW
Li
Jian-ping
JP
Xu
Rui-sheng
RS
D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17 / Q000502:physiology*
D020381:Interleukin-17; D053722:Receptors, Interleukin-17