Interleukin-27 as a Target to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

F. Gong and colleagues recently discussed “Interleukin-27 as a potential therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis”. They asked: “has the time come?” IL–27, along with IL-12, IL-23, and IL-35, is a member of the IL–6/IL12 family.

H. Yoshida and colleagues were discussing IL-27 in 2009: “Interleukin 27: a double-edged sword for offense and defense.” With IL-27 we have the problem, that it work both pro- and anti-inflammatory. In the CIA mouse model IL-27 worked suppressive on inflammation, but in the model of proteoglycan-induced arthritis IL-27 showed proinflammatory effects. IL-27 plays a role in regulation of Th cell differentiation, it induces Th1 differentiation, and also has an impact on B cell differentiation and Ig production, just to name a few properties.

F. Gong and colleagues are confident that “IL–27 may have promise as a potential therapeutic target for RA.” I hope they will be proven right, but I see a long way ahead. So, the time for IL-27 hasn’t come yet.


Links:
F. Gong: http://www.mdlinx.com/rheumatology/news-article-exit-page.cfm/4741912
H. Yoshida: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19801497 (Free article available)