The N-Formyl Peptide Receptors and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Dangerous Liaison or Confusing Relationship?

• Main Authors: Ilaria Mormile, Francesca Wanda Rossi, Nella Prevete, Francescopaolo Granata, Valentina Pucino, Amato de Paulis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-06-01
• Series: Frontiers in Immunology
• Subjects: rheumatoid arthritis; formylpeptide receptors; rheumatoid arthritis histopathotypes; pattern recognition receptors; innate immunity
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.685214/full

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a progressive symmetric inflammation of the joints resulting in bone erosion and cartilage destruction with a progressive loss of function and joint deformity. An increased number of findings support the role of innate immunity in RA: many innate immune mechanisms are responsible for producing several cytokines and chemokines involved in RA pathogenesis, such as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1. Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a crucial role in modulating the activity of the innate arm of the immune response. We focused our attention over the years on the expression and functions of a specific class of PRR, namely formyl peptide receptors (FPRs), which exert a key function in both sustaining and resolving the inflammatory response, depending on the context and/or the agonist. We performed a broad review of the data available in the literature on the role of FPRs and their ligands in RA. Furthermore, we queried a publicly available database collecting data from 90 RA patients with different clinic features to evaluate the possible association between FPRs and clinic-pathologic parameters of RA patients.