title: IL-33: a promising therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis?
abstract: Cytokine-mediated immunity plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recently, the IL-1-family-related cytokine, IL-33, was detected at high levels in experimental inflammatory arthritis and in the early phase of human RA, and was reported to exert profound pro-inflammatory effects in several experimental autoimmune models. Moreover, administration of IL-33 leads to the development of severe inflammatory arthritis, suggesting that IL-33 may be therapeutically relevant in RA, and the targeting of IL-33 or the IL-33 receptor has been proposed as a potential therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases such as RA. In this article, we discuss the biological features of IL-33 and summarize recent advances in our understanding of the role of IL-33 in the pathogenesis and treatment of RA. It is hoped that this information may aid the development of novel therapeutic strategies for RA.
authors: Feng-Lai
authors: FL
authors: Yuan
authors: Xia
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Wei-Guo
authors: WG
authors: Lu
authors: Cheng-Wan
authors: CW
authors: Li
authors: Rui-Sheng
authors: RS
authors: Xu
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C506536:IL33 protein, human; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D007378:Interleukins; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin