Small interfering RNAs in the management of human rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has unclear pathogenesis, but the molecules that feed its inflammatory state are known. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are useful to identify molecular targets and evaluate the efficacy of specific drugs, and can themselves be used for therapeutic purposes.

Sources of data: A systematic search of different databases to March 2022 was performed to define the role of siRNAs in RA therapy. Twenty suitable studies were identified.

Areas of agreement: Small interfering RNAs can be useful in the study of inflammatory processes in RA, and identify possible therapeutic targets and drug therapies.

Areas of controversy: Many genes and cytokines participate in the inflammatory process of RA and can be regulated with siRNA. However, it is difficult to determine whether the responses to siRNAs and other drugs studied in human cells in vitro are similar to the responses in vivo.

Growing points: Inflammatory processes can be affected by the gene dysregulation of siRNAs on inflammatory cytokines.

Areas timely for developing research: To date, it is not possible to determine whether the pharmacological response of siRNAs on cells in vitro would be similar to what takes place in vivo for the diseases studied so far.

Keywords: RNA interference; rheumatoid arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis therapy; short interfering RNA; silencing RNA; small interfering RNA.