JAK/STAT pathway in pathology of rheumatoid arthritis (Review)

Ciobanu,Dana   Alexandra; Poenariu,Ioan  Sabin; Crînguș,Laura-Ioana; Vreju,Florentin   Ananu; Turcu-Stiolica,Adina; Tica,Andrei   Adrian; Padureanu,Vlad; Dumitrascu,Roxana   Mihaela; Banicioiu-Covei,Simona; Dinescu,Stefan   Cristian; Boldeanu,Lidia; Siloși,Isabela; Ungureanu,Anca   Marilena; Boldeanu,Mihail   Virgil; Osiac,Eugen; Barbulescu,Andreea   Lili

doi:10.3892/etm.2020.8982

JAK/STAT pathway in pathology of rheumatoid arthritis (Review)

Authors:
- Dana Alexandra Ciobanu
- Ioan Sabin Poenariu
- Laura-Ioana Crînguș
- Florentin Ananu Vreju
- Adina Turcu-Stiolica
- Andrei Adrian Tica
- Vlad Padureanu
- Roxana Mihaela Dumitrascu
- Simona Banicioiu-Covei
- Stefan Cristian Dinescu
- Lidia Boldeanu
- Isabela Siloși
- Anca Marilena Ungureanu
- Mihail Virgil Boldeanu
- Eugen Osiac
- Andreea Lili Barbulescu
View Affiliations

Affiliations: Department of Rheumatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania, Department of Immunology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania, Department of Pharmacoeconomics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania , Department of Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania, Department of Medical Semiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania, Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania, Department of Biophysics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Published online on: July 9, 2020 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8982
Pages: 3498-3503
Copyright: © Ciobanu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is classified as an inflammatory, chronic autoimmune and disabling disease based on the intricate interplay between environmental and genetic factors. With a prevalence ranging from 0.3 to 1%, RA is the most prevalent inflammatory joint disease observed in adults. Disruption of immune tolerance becomes evident when abnormal stimulation of the innate and adaptive immune system occurs. This cascade of events causes persistent joint inflammation, proliferative synovitis and, ultimately, damage of the underlying cartilage as well as the subchondral bone, leading to permanent joint destruction, deformity and subsequent loss of function. With cytokines being the key to a multitude of biological processes, including inflammation, hematopoiesis and overall immune response, one must inevitably look at the main pathways through which a significant number of those molecules exert their function. Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STATs) represent one such pathway and, recently, JAK inhibitors (JAKinibs) have shown promise in the treatment of several inflammatory diseases, including RA. This narrative review focuses on the intricate signaling pathways involved as well as on the clinical aspects and safety profiles of JAKinibs approved for the treatment of RA.

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