Cytokines and inflammatory mediators as promising markers of polymyositis/dermatomyositis

Purpose of review Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), known also as myositis, represent challenging group of heterogeneous muscle disorders characterized by symmetric proximal muscle weakness and evidence of muscle inflammation. The purpose of this review is to provide important updates on cytokines and inflammatory mediators related to myositis. Recent findings In the past 5 years, multiple studies brought a fresh insight into the pathogenesis of myositis by introducing new factors or further characterizing the role of the well established mediators in myositis. Among the mediators reviewed in this article, special attention was paid to interferons, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10, interleukin-18 and the IL23/Th17 axis. Some of the recent work has also focused on the nontraditional cytokines, such as adipokines, myokines, S100 proteins, High Mobility Group Box 1 or B-cell activating factor and on several anti-inflammatory mediators. Moreover, microRNAs and their potential to reflect the disease activity or to regulate the inflammatory processes in myositis have recently been subject of intensive investigation. Some of the above-mentioned mediators have been proposed as promising clinical biomarkers or therapeutic targets for myositis. Summary Several recent studies contributed to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of myositis and highlighted the clinical significance of certain inflammatory mediators. Application of these new findings may help to devel...
Source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Tags: MYOSITIS AND MYOPATHIES: Edited by Andrea Doria, Anna Ghirardello and Mariele Gatto Source Type: research