An overview of the perspectives on experimental models and new therapeutic targets in giant cell arteritis

Abstract

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most frequent systemic vasculitis occurring in adults older than 50 years, and aortitis is described in 40% to 80% of patients. The treatment relies on corticosteroids, but it is complicated by high rates of relapses and adverse effects and may be unable to completely inhibit aortic inflammation. Moreover, most of the current data regarding the pathophysiology of GCA have been obtained from bioassays using blood and temporal arteries, as well as histological analyses of temporal arteries and very few aortic aneurysms from patients with GCA. The limitations of these analyses prevent researchers from determining the implications of specific targets and studying the effects of targeted treatments. Several experimental models have been developed, but to date, a perfect model is not available for GCA, particularly for studies of large-vessel vasculitis. The review focuses on the perspectives on experimental models and new therapeutic targets in giant cell arteritis.

Keywords: Anti-interleukin-1; Anti-interleukin-6; Giant cell arteritis; IL1rn(−/−); Large-vessel vasculitis.