Title:Chemokines: A Potential Therapeutic Target to Suppress Autoimmune Arthritis
Volume: 25
Issue: 27
Author(s): Mahmood A. Khan, Nikhil Khurana, Rafat S. Ahmed, Sadiq Umar, Abu H. Md. G. Sarwar, Qamre Alam, Mohammad A. Kamal and Ghulam Md Ashraf*
Affiliation:
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah,Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Rheumatiod arthritis, chemokines, cytokines, inflammation, synovial tissue, cartilage destruction.
Abstract:
Background: Chemokines are a family of low molecular weight proteins that induce chemotaxis of
inflammatory cells, which mainly depends on the recognition of a chemo-attractant gradient and interaction with
the substratum. In Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), abundant chemokines are expressed in synovial tissue, cause inflammatory
cells migration into the inflamed joint that necessitates the formation of new blood vessels i.e. angiogenesis.
Over the decades, studies showed that continuous inflammation may lead to the loss of tissue architecture
and function, causing severe disability and cartilage destruction. In spite of the advancement of modern drug
therapy, thousands of arthritic patients suffer mortality and morbidity globally. Thus, there is an urgent need for
the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of RA.
Methods: This review is carried out throughout a non-systematic search of the accessible literature, will provide
an overview of the current information of chemokine in RA and also exploring the future perspective of the vital
role of targeting chemokine in RA treatment.
Results: Since, chemokines are associated with inflammatory cells/leucocyte migration at the site of inflammation
in chronic inflammatory diseases and hence, blockade or interference with chemokines activity showing a
potential approach for the development of new anti-inflammatory agents. Currently, results obtained from both
preclinical and clinical studies showed significant improvement in arthritis.
Conclusion: This review summarizes the role of chemokines and their receptors in the pathogenesis of RA and
also indicates possible interactions of chemokines/receptors with various synthetic and natural compounds that
may be used as a potential therapeutic target in the future for the treatment of RA.