TY - JOUR T1 - Cellular targets of interleukin-18 in rheumatoid arthritis JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases JO - Ann Rheum Dis SP - 1411 LP - 1418 DO - 10.1136/ard.2006.067793 VL - 66 IS - 11 AU - Sheng-Ming Dai AU - Zheng-Zheng Shan AU - Huji Xu AU - Kusuki Nishioka Y1 - 2007/11/01 UR - http://ard.bmj.com/content/66/11/1411.abstract N2 - Recent data are presented which indicate a critical role for interleukin (IL)-18 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The T cells and macrophages invading the synovium or in the synovial fluid are the chief cellular targets of IL-18 in RA. Neutrophils, dendritic cells and endothelial cells may also be cellular mediators of IL-18. The direct effect of IL-18 on fibroblast-like synoviocytes or chondrocytes may not be essential or important. In RA, IL-18, which is mainly produced by macrophages, activates T cells and macrophages to produce proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules and RANKL which, in turn, perpetuate chronic inflammation and induce bone and cartilage destruction. ER -