Cytokines in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Pro-inflammatory cytokines promote the development of systemic effects (anemia, car- diovascular disease, fatigue and depression).
Abstract
Cytokines are cell molecules that are secreted by immune cells and aid cell to cell com- munication in immune responses and stimulate the movement of cells towards sites of inflammation, infection and trauma. So, the cytokines are the main part of the immune network to provide the communication in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) too. In RA, cytokines may be classified into four groups: pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory cytokines in joints, anti-inflammatory cytokines and natural cytokine antagonists. After the ini-tial stimuli have occurred, cytokines play a role in communication between the parts of immune system in every step of the pathophysiology process of RA. The differentiation of narve T cells into Th17 cells results in inflammation (synovitis) in joints. B cells fur- ther the pathogenic process through antigen presentation and autoantibody and cytokine production. The release of cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleu- kin (IL)-6 and IL-1, causes synovial inflammation. In addition to their articular effects, pro-inflammatory cytokines promote the development of systemic effects (anemia, car- diovascular disease, fatigue and depression). So, cytokines are the main molecules con-tributing to all facets of the disease.