Cytokines as Biomarkers in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

RA is a complex disease that develops as a series of events often referred to as disease continuum. RA would benefit from novel biomarker development for diagnosis where new biomarkers are still needed (even if progresses have been made with the inclusion of ACPA into the ACR/EULAR 2010 diagnostic criteria) and for prognostic notably in at risk of evolution patients with autoantibody-positive arthralgia. Risk biomarkers for rapid evolution or cardiovascular complications are also highly desirable. Monitoring biomarkers would be useful in predicting relapse. Finally, predictive biomarkers for therapy outcome would allow tailoring therapy to the individual. Increasing numbers of cytokines have been involved in RA pathology. Many have the potential as biomarkers in RA especially as their clinical utility is already established in other diseases and could be easily transferable to rheumatology. We will review the current knowledge's relation to cytokine used as biomarker in RA. However, given the complexity and heterogeneous nature of RA, it is unlikely that a single cytokine may provide sufficient discrimination; therefore multiple biomarker signatures may represent more realistic approach for the future of personalised medicine in RA.

Immunological evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with itolizumab

“…Proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF, IL-6, IL-1, IFN-g) are abundant in the RA profile, but anti-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines (e.g.,, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13) have also been related to the disease. 51 Most of the biological drugs approved for RA treatment have proinflammatory cytokines as targets, although these agents cannot be used over long time periods. 52 It has been demonstrated that MTX induces IL-6 secretion in human cell lines.…”

Cytokines in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis: new players and therapeutic targets

“…However, partial and non-responses to these compounds, together with the increasing clinical drive to remission induction, requires that further therapeutic targets are identified [4]. In recent years, a growing number of new cytokines as well as their function in health and disease have been identified [5]. Cytokines serve as the mediators of cellular differentiation, inflammation, immune pathology, and regulation of the immune response.…”

Reliable and cost-effective serodiagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

“…Multiple biomarkers of disease activity in RA have been evaluated in studies originating from both Africa [6][7][8][9][10][11] and elsewhere [12][13][14][15][16]. In addition, commercial ventures have also focused on developing multi-array test profiles that may improve cost-effective management of RA [15,17].…”