TREEting Rheumatoid Arthritis

摘要

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that can cause swelling of the joints, cartilage degradation, and eventual bone erosion. The immunological processes are controlled by a set of cytokines (cell signaling molecules) that trigger an inflammatory response, diminish anti-inflammatory responses, and promote the differentiation of monocytes into osteoclasts. Current treatments, based on monoclonal antibodies and soluble receptors, typically target only the proinflammatory cytokines. Hayderef al. synthesized den-drimers—highly branched tree-like polymers— in which the outer branches were capped with azabisphosphonate (ABP), which has been shown to selectively target monocytes in culture. These dendrimers were tested in mice with a deficiency in the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and in mice undergoing K/BxN serum transfer, which are two established inflammatory arthritis models.