Review

Chemokine blockade: a new era in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis?

Jasper J Haringman and Paul P Tak*

Author Affiliations

Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Centre/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Arthritis Res Ther 2004, 6:93-97 doi:10.1186/ar1172

Published: 1 April 2004

Abstract

Blockade of chemokines or chemokine receptors is emerging as a new potential treatment for various immune-mediated conditions. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential in rheumatoid arthritis, based on studies in animal models and patients. Several knockout models as well as in vivo use of chemokine antagonists are discussed. Review of these data suggests that this approach might lead to novel therapeutic strategies in rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory disorders.

Keywords:
chemokines; rheumatoid arthritis; synovial tissue