T cells and rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. Although a variety of cells and molecules are recognized as contributors to the inflammation and the progressive joint destruction, self-reactived T cell activation is always thought to be a central event in the initiation and progression of this disease. Various subtypes of T cells play a variety of roles in the pathogenesis of RA. In general, CD4 + T cells are recognized to drive the inflammatory response as activated proinflammatory Th1 effector cells. However, recent studies of the role certain T cell subsets, such as regulatory T cells or the newly discovered Th17 cell, suggest an broader involvement of T cells in the pathogenesis of RA and provide new opportunities for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of RA. Key words: Rheumatoid arthritis;  T cell;  T helper cell;  T regulatory cell