THE ROLE OF CHEMOKINES IN INFLAMMATORY JOINT DISEASE

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by th e elicitation and activation of a number of leukocyte populations with in both the synovial space and joint tissue, The recruited leukocytes subsequently play an instrumental role in synovial cell proliferation, pannus formation, and bone erosion, Although it is known that leukocy tes are important participants in the evolving joint pathology, the me chanism responsible for the successful elicitation of cells to the joi nt is not clear, A number of studies have identified an association of specific cytokines, including chemokines, with active arthritis, but longitudinal analyses of cytokine expression and the causal role of th ese mediators have not been defined, Animal models and cell culture sy stems have proved useful in identifying the expression of various cyto kines during the maintenance of chronic joint inflammation, In additio n, animal models have provided important information regarding the kin etic production and contribution of specific mediators to the developm ent of experimental arthritis, These studies provide insight into the potential mechanisms for leukocyte involvement in inflammatory joint d isease.