Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3342552 | Autoimmunity Reviews | 2007 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
There has been significant progress in cytokine-blocking therapy for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) However, inhibition of cytokines involved in immune defense raises severe side effects. The cost of cytokine-blocking treatment is another major issue. Why are levels of inflammatory cytokines increased in RA patients? We have a large amount of circumstantial and direct evidence for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in RA synovial cells. Here, we provide an overview of the implications for novel approaches to therapy for RA patients, based on the most recent available evidences of anti-viral agents.
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Authors
Shigemasa Sawada, Masami Takei, Hirotake Inomata, Takamasa Nozaki, Hidetaka Shiraiwa,