[Cytokines in bone diseases. Anti-cytokine therapies for bone and joint diseases].

The efficacy of biologics targeting inflammatory cytokines such as TNF and IL-6 for bone and joint diseases has been emerging. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic synovitis and bone damage. By the use of TNF-inhibitors, clinical remission, structural remission and functional remission have become possible during the treatment of RA. Especially, the progress of joint and bone destruction is completely suppressed by TNF-inhibitors in the vast majority of RA patients. On the other hand, anti-RANKL antibody inhibits joint destruction as well as systemic osteoporosis, though no effects on synovitis of RA. Thus, differential efficacy of different therapies in bone destruction and osteoporosis would warrant further study to clarify the mechanisms of bone and joints diseases.