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Functions of interleukin‐34 and its emerging association with rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Zhou RenPeng,
Wu XiaoShan,
Xie YaYa,
Dai BeiBei,
Hu Wei,
Ge JinFang,
Chen FeiHu
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/imm.12660
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , immunology , medicine , inflammation , cytokine , interleukin 23 , arthritis , monoclonal antibody , autoimmune disease , interleukin 17 , antibody
Summary Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic, synovial inflammation affecting multiple joints, finally leading to extra‐articular lesions for which limited effective treatment options are currently available. Interleukin‐34 ( IL ‐34), recently discovered as the second colony‐stimulating factor‐1 receptor ( CSF ‐1R) ligand, is a newly discovered cytokine. Accumulating evidence has disclosed crucial roles of IL ‐34 in the proliferation and differentiation of mononuclear phagocyte lineage cells, osteoclastogenesis and inflammation. Recently, IL ‐34 was detected at high levels in patients with active RA and in experimental models of inflammatory arthritis. Blockade of functional IL ‐34 with a specific monoclonal antibody can reduce the severity of inflammatory arthritis, suggesting that targeting IL ‐34 or its receptors may constitute a novel therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases such as RA . Here, we have comprehensively discussed the structure and biological functions of IL ‐34, and reviewed recent advances in our understanding of the emerging role of IL ‐34 in the development of RA as well as its potential utility as a therapeutic target.