Macrophages in rheumatoid arthritis
N. Maruotti1, F.P. Cantatore1, E. Crivellato2, A. Vacca3 and D. Ribatti4
1Chair of Rheumatology, University of Foggia Medical School, Foggia, Italy, 2Department of Medical and Morphological Research, Anatomy Section, University of Udine Medical School, Udine, Italy, 3Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy and 4Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
Offprint requests to: Prof. Domenico Ribatti, Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11, Bari, Italy. e-mail: ribatti@anatomia.uniba.it
Summary. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) tissue macrophages release growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases, cytokines, and chemokines. While in normal joints there is a balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, an imbalance between these inducers and inhibitors of inflammation occurs in RA, where macrophages are responsible for inducing inflammation, matrix destruction and angiogenesis. Histol Histopathol 22, 581-586 (2007)
Key words: Chemokine, Cytokine, Macrophage, Metalloproteinase, Rheumatoid arthritis
DOI: 10.14670/HH-22.581