Abstract

LOPEZ-BENITEZ, CM; PLACERES U, FA; ALONZO, EJ  and  RODRIGUEZ B, MA. Papel Patogénico de los Fibroblastos en la Membrana Sinovial de Pacientes con Artritis Reumatoide. RFM [online]. 2001, vol.24, n.1, pp.42-46. ISSN 0798-0469.

Inflammatory process, of an autoimmune basis, predominantly driven by T lymphocytes of the cooperative/inductor phenotype (CD4⁺), and 2. A proliferative process of the synovial membrane, termed pannus, with two participating cell types, monocytes/macrophages (synoviocytes of myelomonocytic lineage) and fibroblasts (synoviocytes of mesenchimal origin). The latter cell population shows a transformed phenotype and it is probably involved in the unchecked pannus growth. They contribute along with monocytes/macrophages, to the unrelated invasion and destruction of articular cartilage and subchondral bone. In this article we discuss the reported evidences of abnormalities in the regulation of activation and proliferation of rheumatoid fibroblasts and formulate a hypothesis of potential defects in post-receptor signaling of these cells as the basis for their disregulated functional response. The identification of critical abnormalities in fibroblast post-receptor signaling cascades may lead to the development of alternative treatment modalities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Keywords : Rheumatoid arthritis; Pannus; Signal transduction.