Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting typically synovial joints and leading to progressive articular damage, disability, and reduced quality of life. Despite better recent therapeutic strategies improving long-term outcomes, RA is associated with a high rate of comorbidities, infections, malignancies, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Remarkably, some well-known pathogenic proinflammatory mediators in RA, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), may play a pivotal role in the development of CVD. Interestingly, different preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that biologic agents commonly used to treat RA patients may be effective in improving CVD. In this context, the contribution of adipocytokines has been suggested. Adipocytokines are pleiotropic molecules, mainly released by white adipose tissue and immune cells. Adipocytokines modulate the function of different tissues and cells, and in addition to energy homeostasis and metabolism, amplify inflammation, immune response, and tissue damage. Adipocytokines may contribute to the proinflammatory state in RA patients and development of bone damage. Furthermore, they could be associated with the occurrence of CVD. In this study, we reviewed available evidence about adipocytokines in RA, because of their involvement in disease activity, associated CVD, and possible biomarkers of prognosis and treatment outcome and because of their potential as a possible new therapeutic target.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting typically synovial joints and leading to progressive articular damage, disability, and reduced quality of life [1,2,3,4]
RA is associated with an increased rate of comorbidities, including infections, malignancies, and cardiovascular disease (CVD), leading to the excess of mortality experienced by these patients [5,6,7]
Leptin shows different biological actions deriving from an activation of OB-Rb long-form isoform receptors, which are encoded by the diabetes gene [27]
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting typically synovial joints and leading to progressive articular damage, disability, and reduced quality of life [1,2,3,4]. RA is associated with an increased rate of comorbidities, including infections, malignancies, and cardiovascular disease (CVD), leading to the excess of mortality experienced by these patients [5,6,7]. A close association between RA and accelerated atherosclerosis has been highlighted, due to the interaction between traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and proinflammatory pathways [8,9,10,11]. Different reports have suggested that biologic DMARDs, commonly used to treat RA patients, may be effective in improving CV comorbidities [19, 20]. In this context, the contribution of adipocytokines has been suggested [21]. We reviewed available evidence about adipocytokines in RA, because of their involvement in Journal of Immunology Research disease activity, associated CVD, and possible biomarkers of prognosis and treatment outcome and because of their potential as possible new therapeutic targets
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