The toll-like receptor-nuclear factor kB pathway in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

The study of the role cytokines play in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has provided a whole new range of targets for drug development. Many of them (e.g. TNF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-15 and IL-18) are already being targeted in the clinic with success using neutralizing monoclonal antibodies or soluble cytokine receptors. Targeting TNF, in particular, has shown great efficacy in controlling both the inflammation and structural damage of the joints, setting a new gold standard for the treatment of RA. However, what triggers the production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF in RA remains to be determined. In this article, we review evidence suggesting that the transcription factor Nuclear Factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) is essential for the expression of both inflammatory cytokines and tissue destructive enzymes in RA. Also, we discuss whether Toll-like receptors (TLRs), major receptors involved in pathogen recognition and potent activators of the NF-kappaB pathway, are involved in triggering the inflammatory and joint destructive process in RA and whether they constitute sensible targets for monoclonal antibodies/soluble receptors and small molecule inhibitors. We conclude that although the TLR- NF-kappaB pathway offers ample opportunities for therapeutic intervention, future drugs to be approved will need to match or exceed the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF agents, with safety the most difficult aspect to predict.