Mecanismos de destrucción de hueso en la artritis reumatoide. (Japonés)

Nakamura M, Tanaka S.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Tokyo.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by the presence of inflammatory synovitis accompanied by cartilage and bone destruction. Histological examination of RA pannus shows a number of osteoclasts on the surface of the destructed bone. RA synovial tissues produce a variety of proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors that may increase osteoclast formation, activity, and/or survival. Synovial fibroblasts from RA patients express high levels of RANKL, which is essential for the differentiation of osteoclasts, and therefore, RANKL can be a good therapeutic target of joint destruction in RA.

Nippon Rinsho. 2005 Sep;63(9):1571-3.