[Role of cytokines and growth factors in joint destruction processes].

Cytokines and growth factors are important mediators of inflammatory reactions and play a central role in the physiologic regulation of bone and cartilage cell activities and in joint destruction. The net effects of cytokines on target tissues depend on the relative pericellular concentrations of several cytokines and their inhibitors in the inflammatory tissue. It is possible to suppress the effects of cytokines with natural or synthetic inhibitory molecules. The measurement of cytokines and their inhibitors may be useful to understand the pathogenesis and to develop new therapies for inflammatory joint diseases. In this review the following cytokines will be reviewed: interleukin 1 and its inhibitor, tumor necrosis factor alpha and its inhibitor, interleukin 6, interferon gamma, transforming growth factor beta, colony-stimulating factors, fibroblast growth factors, platelet derived growth factor and prostaglandins.