Research progress in nerve growth factor and immunopathology of rheumatoid arthritis / 国际生物医学工程杂志

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and aggressive arthritis. The basic pathological changes of RA include intra-articular hyperplasia synovitis and extra-articular vasculitis, symmetrical joint cavity effusion and stenosis, and the formation of pannus leading to the destruction of articular cartilage or joint accessory structures. In the course of RA, swelling and pain of the affected joints occur, causing joint deformities, joint stiffness, and joint dysfunction, and eventually disability. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the study of the relationship between nerve growth factor (NGF) and RA immunopathology. The results of existing studies have shown that the level of NGF in the synovial fluid of RA patients is elevated, suggesting that NGF plays an important role in immune inflammation-mediated pain behavior. In addition, nerve growth factor precursors (including proNGF and proBDNF, etc.) can promote cell apoptosis and inflammation. Among them, the levels of proBDNF and its receptors have significant changes in the blood of RA patients. Therefore, it can be inferred that proNGF and proBDNF may become new targets for RA treatment. According to the latest international domestic research results, in this paper the research progress of NGF and RA in immunopathology, immune inflammatory response, pain behavior, etc. were briefly introduced, and the potential application value of NGF in the treatment of RA was summarized.