Signaling pathway involved in Rheumatoid Arthritis: target for new therapeutic interventions

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid arthritis is categorized as a systematic autoimmune disease which causes chronic disabilities exclusively in bones that are aligned with synovium. RA etiology is still unknown but previous studies have coined that several number of factors play a significant role e.g. environmental and genetic factors. Cellular signaling pathways orchestrate the inflammatory response that regulates various cellular functions like cellular progression, proliferation, death and secretion of signaling molecules [pro and anti inflammatory cytokines] in response to genetic and environmental stimuli. These regulatory pathways are tightly controlled and naturally activated by ligands that attach to their respective receptors on the cell surface. In diseased state, these signaling pathways escape the normal control mechanisms resulting in intensification of cytokines and chemokines, transcription factors and mediatory proteins that disrupt normal cell processes and might bring about auto-destructive consequences such as in the case of rheumatoid arthritis. The review highlights multiple levels of targeting molecules in signaling pathways that may be potential diagnostic markers and also attempts to underline potential therapeutic targets