REVIEW - Molecular aspects of RA: role of environmental factors

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FEBS Journal

Volume 275, Issue 18, Pages 4456-4462

Published Online: 25 Jul 2008

MINIREVIEW

Molecular aspects of rheumatoid arthritis: role of environmental factors

Shu Kobayashi, Shigeki Momohara, Naoyuki Kamatani and Hiroshi Okamoto

Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic inflammatory disease

that affects 0.5–1% of the population. RA causes progressive joint

destruction that leads to the restriction of activities of daily

living and deterioration of quality of life. Although the pathogenesis

of RA has not yet been fully elucidated, it is considered to be a

complex, multifarious disease that is influenced by both genetic and

environmental factors. Genetic influences that contribute to RA

susceptibility have been demonstrated both in studies of twins and

families, as well as in genome-wide linkage scans, and it is estimated

that genetic factors are responsible for 50–60% of the risk of

developing RA. Thus, environmental factors may explain the remaining

risk of developing RA. A large variety of environmental factors such

as infectious agents, smoking, sex hormones, pregnancy etc. have been

extensively studied previously. Understanding of how these factors

contribute to the development of RA may lead to the better

understanding of pathogenesis of RA.

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic inflammatory disease

that affects 0.5–1% of the population and causes progressive joint

destruction that leads to the restriction of activities of daily

living and deterioration of quality of life. Although the pathogenesis

of RA has not yet been fully elucidated, it is considered to be a

complex, multifarious disease that is influenced by both genetic and

environmental factors. Genetic influences that contribute to RA

susceptibility have been demonstrated in both studies of twins [1] and

families [2], as well as in genome-wide linkage scans [3]. These

studies estimated that genetic factors are responsible for 50–60% of

the risk of developing RA and that environmental factors may explain

the remaining risk. This quantification was made by a classical

approach to separating the quantitative influence of genetic factors

in RA with nationwide studies of twins with RA, as described

previously [1]. This minireview focuses on the contribution of

environmental risk factors to the development of RA.

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