New Targets and Strategies for Rheumatoid Arthritis: From Signal Transduction to Epigenetic Aspect

Biomolecules. 2023 Apr 28;13(5):766. doi: 10.3390/biom13050766.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can lead to joint damage and even permanent disability, seriously affecting patients' quality of life. At present, the complete cure for RA is not achievable, only to relieve the symptoms to reduce the pain of patients. Factors such as environment, genes, and sex can induce RA. Presently, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, DRMADs, and glucocorticoids are commonly used in treating RA. In recent years, some biological agents have also been applied in clinical practice, but most have side effects. Therefore, finding new mechanisms and targets for treating RA is necessary. This review summarizes some potential targets discovered from the perspective of epigenetics and RA mechanisms.

Keywords: epigenetic; molecular mechanisms; rheumatoid arthritis.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid* / genetics
  • Autoimmune Diseases* / genetics
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Signal Transduction

Grants and funding

Macau Science and Technology Development fund (FDCT (0011/2020/A1, 0012/2021/AMJ, 003/2022/ALC, 0092/2022/A2)). The National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81973320).