Many advances have occurred in the last 5 years especiallyin understanding genetic susceptibility factors, the role ofimmune response in chronic arthritis and the relationshipbetween cellular processes that underlie inflammation andtissue damage. All these are dealt with in depth in theindividual contributions. Genetics studies included illustrate how studies of HLAgenes and genes controlling the autoantibody repertoire maybe involved. Environmental factors are believed to beimportant and studies both in humans and in experimentalmodels on the role of viral and bacterial agents arecovered. The fascinating relationship between microbes, dysregulated immune responses and oncogenes are alsoexamined. Since autoimmunity is the key aspect of the immunologicalresponse in rheumatoid arthritis, the role of antigens isre-examined as is the part played by immune T and B cells. New areas of clinical application of basic science is wellpresented in this book, forexample, in examining howmarkers of cartilage destruction may become important inmonitoring disease activity. A chapter reviewing possiblefuture novel therapies is included.
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