IL-32 with potential insights into rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by chronic inflammation in synovial joints. Effective treatment for RA is lacking because the clear etiology and pathogenesis of RA have not been fully elucidated. Cytokine-mediated immunity has been found to play an important role in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases such as RA. Recently, IL-32 is identified with high expression in RA patients and mice models of experimental inflammatory arthritis. IL-32 is recognized to play a crucial role in RA with pro-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, interventions for blocking IL-32 in RA seem possible and applicable. Therefore, targeting IL-32 may give therapeutic potential. In this article, we discuss the biological features of IL-32 and summarize recent advances in understanding the role of IL-32 in disease onset of and treatment for RA. Hopefully the information obtained will benefit for developing novel therapeutic strategies.