title: Mathematical modelling of cytokine-mediated inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease preferentially affecting the joints and leading, if untreated, to progressive joint damage and disability. Cytokines, a group of small inducible proteins, which act as intercellular messengers, are key regulators of the inflammation that characterizes RA. They can be classified into pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory groups. Numerous cytokines have been implicated in the regulation of RA with complex up and down regulatory interactions. This paper considers a two-variable model for the interactions between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and demonstrates that mathematical modelling may be used to investigate the involvement of cytokines in the disease process. The model displays a range of possible behaviours, such as bistability and oscillations, which are strongly reminiscent of the behaviour of RA e.g. genetic susceptibility and remitting-relapsing disease. We also show that the dose regimen as well as the dose level are important factors in RA treatments.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Denman-Johnson
authors.forename: Bindi S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gaywood
authors.forename: Markus R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Owen
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018448:Models, Immunological
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators