Cytokines and Inflammatory Arthritis

Cytokines are peptide mediators of cell growth, differentiation and activation. In inflammatory joint disease their effects include bone and cartilage resorption, induction of inflammatory prostanoids, and lymphocyte, monocyte and endothelial cell activation. Systemic effects include pyrexia, altered sleep patterns, anorexia, cachexia and induction of the acute phase proteins1,2.