Adipokine Modulation in Inflammatory Arthritis
Summary
Adipokines are bioactive molecules secreted by adipose tissue that modulate immune responses, inflammation and tissue remodelling in inflammatory arthritides such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. These mediators can exert both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects depending on their isoforms, local concentrations and receptor expression on immune and stromal cells. In affected joints, adipokines influence synovial fibroblast activity, cytokine networks and osteoclastogenesis, thereby contributing to synovitis, cartilage degradation and bone erosion. Systemically, aberrant adipokine production links metabolic disturbances such as obesity and sarcopenic obesity to enhanced disease severity and comorbidities. Therapeutic modulation of adipokine signalling holds promise both as a biomarker-guided strategy and as a means to restore immune-metabolic homeostasis in chronic arthritis.
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Adipokine Modulation in Inflammatory Arthritis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in adipokine modulation in inflammatory arthritis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adipokine: A cytokine or hormone secreted by adipose tissue that influences immune function, metabolism and inflammation.
Leptin: A pro-inflammatory adipokine primarily involved in appetite regulation and immune cell activation, often elevated in obesity and arthritis.
Adiponectin: An adipokine with isoform-specific effects that can be anti-inflammatory systemically but pro-inflammatory in the arthritic joint microenvironment.
Fibroblast-like synoviocyte: A specialised stromal cell in synovial tissue that produces extracellular matrix, cytokines and matrix-degrading enzymes in arthritis.
Sarcopenic obesity: The coexistence of reduced muscle mass and increased adiposity, which exacerbates inflammation and disability in chronic arthritis.
References
- High leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Research & Therapy (2024).
- Adipokines in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Emerging Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Biomedicines (2023).
- Synergy between adiponectin and interleukin-1β on the expression of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and cyclooxygenase-2 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Experimental & Molecular Medicine (2012).
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