New immune cells in spondyloarthritis: Key players or innocent bystanders?

Koen Venken; Dirk Elewaut

doi:10.1016/j.berh.2016.02.002

New immune cells in spondyloarthritis: Key players or innocent bystanders?

Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2015 Dec;29(6):706-14. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 Mar 12.

Authors

Koen Venken¹, Dirk Elewaut²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Inflammation Research Center, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: koen.venken@ugent.be.
² Laboratory for Molecular Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; VIB Inflammation Research Center, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: dirk.elewaut@ugent.be.

PMID: 27107508
DOI: 10.1016/j.berh.2016.02.002

Abstract

The central role of the inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-23, and IL-17 in the disease pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis (SpA) is unquestionable, given the strong efficacy of anti-cytokine therapeutics used in the treatment of SpA patients. These cytokines are produced by a diverse range of immune cells, some extending beyond the typical spectrum of lineage-defined subsets. Recently, a number of specialized cells, such as innate-like T-cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and natural killer receptor (NKR)-expressing T cells, have been marked to be involved in SpA pathology. In this chapter, we will elaborate on the unique characteristics of these particular immune subsets and critically evaluate their potential contribution to SpA disease, taking into account their role in joint and gut pathology.

Keywords: HLA-B27; Innate lymphoid cells; KIR3DL2; KLRG1; MAIT; RORγt(+); Spondyloarthritis; iNKT.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cytokines / immunology*
Humans
Interleukin-17 / immunology
Spondylarthritis / immunology*
T-Lymphocytes / immunology
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology

Substances

Cytokines
Interleukin-17
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha