Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease of joints that is characterized by inflammation, abnormal cellular and humoral immune responses, and synovial hyperplasia. Mast cells (MCs) are involved in several of these inflammatory and immune events. MC-derived mediators induce edema, destroy connective tissue, and are involved in lymphocyte chemotaxis and infiltration and in pathological fibrosis of RA joints. Moreover, MCs are involved in angiogenesis during RA, and their proteolytic activity results in cartilage destruction and bone remodeling. Lastly, MCs could be a target in the treatment of RA.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC, National and Regional Funds) Milan, Ministry for Education, the Universities and Research (FIRB 2001 and PRIN 2005), Rome, and the Fondazione Italiana per la Lotta al Neuroblastoma, Genoa, Italy.
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Maruotti, N., Crivellato, E., Cantatore, F.P. et al. Mast cells in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol 26, 1–4 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-006-0305-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-006-0305-3