Agnieszka Lener

Metaloproteinazy w patogenezie i leczeniu reumatoidalnego zapalenia stawów
2008-06-20

Metalloproteinases in pathogenesis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis has not been defined yet. However, it was postulated that inappropriate activation of the immune system plays a major role, with involvement of a variety of cells and release or activation of many biologically active compounds. One of the main clinical features of the disease is joints destruction, where proteolytic enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in tissue damage. The review focuses on MMPs characteristics, and impact of pharmacotherapy on MMPs and their inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis.