Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by systemic and synovial tissue chronic inflammation, and by bone and cartilage erosion and destruction 1. Autoimmune diseases such as RA result from a process involving three distinct but related components – a break in self-tolerance, development of chronic inflammation in one or several organs, and, if ongoing, tissue destruction and its resultant detrimental effects.

Dendritic cells (DC) are essential regulators of both innate and acquired arms of the immune system 2. Their capacity to prime naïve T lymphocytes for helper and cytotoxic function distinguishes them from other antigen-presenting cells (APC). DC are also essential accessory cells in the generation of primary antibody responses, and are powerful enhancers of natural killer T cells and of natural killer cell cytotoxicity 3. On the other hand, DC are also involved in the maintenance of tolerance to antigens. Along with the medullary thymic epithelial cells, DC contribute to thymic central tolerance and shaping of the T-cell repertoire by presenting endogenous self-antigens to T cells and deleting those T cells that exhibit strong autoreactivity 4. In the periphery, resting DC delete autoreactive lymphocytes and expand the population of regulatory T cells. DC therefore have potential use in protective and therapeutic strategies for tolerance restoration in autoimmune diseases (for review see 5).

DC are likely to contribute in several ways to the pathogenesis of RA. First, it is clear from autoimmune models that DC are able to prime MHC-restricted autoimmune responses in lymphoid organs 678. Through this process, DC orchestrate the development of the autoantibody and chronic inflammatory pathology on which the clinical features of RA are based. Second, DC infiltrate synovial tissue and synovial fluid and here are able to take up, process and present antigen locally, contributing to disease perpetuation 910. Animal models and histological evidence show that DC drive the generation of ectopic lymphoid tissue in inflammatory environments, probably including the synovium 811. Furthermore DC, along with synoviocytes and macrophages, produce innate immune inflammatory mediators, and these mediators drive inflammatory pathology in RA 712. Finally, evidence is accumulating that DC also contribute to the complications of RA, including atherosclerosis.

In the present review we consider each of these activities of DC in RA. In any human systemic condition, evidence for these activities relies on in vitro analysis of patient cells and tissues, and on animal models of RA and other autoimmune diseases. Each of these experimental approaches contributes to our current overall understanding of RA pathogenesis. In the near future, approaches developed to image DC in situ in patients, and to use DC therapeutically, will help to validate in the clinic some of the hypotheses generated over the past 20 years of DC research in RA.

DC precursors originate in bone marrow 131415. DC reside in peripheral uninflamed tissues, including synovial tissue in a resting or immature state 1617. Immature DC efficiently capture antigens, including pathogens, particulate, and soluble foreign antigens or self-antigens 18. After antigen uptake, DC rapidly cross the endothelium of lymphatic vessels and migrate to the draining secondary lymphoid organs, under the influence of CCR7 chemotactic ligands 19. The uptake of immunogenic antigen or Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands stimulates differentiation and maturation by DC. This process has been shown to drive a differentiation programme in DC, in which they downregulate their capacity to further capture antigen, but they upregulate antigen processing and presentation, and their expression of costimulatory molecules, secretion of cytokines and responsiveness to chemotactic CCR7 ligands, directing them to lymph nodes 20. In this paradigm, after reaching secondary lymphoid organs, DC engage with and present antigen to local naïve T cells, disappearing after several days due to apoptosis and active killing by cytotoxic T cells 21. Depending on the nature of the inflammatory signal received by immature DC, various differentiation programmes may be stimulated. The nature of the resulting T-cell response can be contributed by upstream DC signals, by the subsets of DC that participate in the immune response, and by the recruitment of other cell types that produce mediators such as prostaglandins or histamine (Table 1) 22.

DC are important directors of immune responsiveness, through their interactions with lymphocytes and other accessory cells. Evidence broadly suggests that, under steady-state conditions, recruitment of resting DC precursors into tissues and migration into secondary lymphoid organs occurs constitutively, in the absence of inflammatory events, and may favour tolerance induction 232425. On the other hand, inflammation-associated stimulation of DC maturation and activation may initiate T-cell proinflammatory cytokine production, cytotoxic function and B-cell antibody production 26 (Figure 1).

The DC maturation programme can be stimulated by various mechanisms, including pathogen-derived molecules (lipopolysaccharide, DNA, RNA), proinflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-1, IL-6), tissue factors such as hyaluronan fragments, heparin sulphate and heat shock proteins, migration of DC across endothelial barriers between inflamed tissues and lymphatics, and T-cell-derived signals (CD154) 2728293031. In contrast, low-affinity T-cell signalling, anti-inflammatory signals, such as IL-10, transforming growth factor beta, prostaglandins and corticosteroids, tend to modify DC maturation and alter the T-cell outcome, deviating the immune response to a Th2-type or regulatory response 32.

NF-κB and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase represent the two major pathways signalling the DC maturation phenotype 29. A broad range of stimuli activate NF-κB, notably TLR ligands, including lipopolysaccharide, mycobacterial and yeast products, proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, TNF and IL-6, as well as other potentially harmful stimuli such as double-stranded RNA, heparan sulphate and hyaluronan derived from damaged tissues, viral proteins, free radicals, UV and γ-irradiation 333435. As a family, NF-κB induces a wide variety of genes, and also affects the function of other transcription factors. Many of the genes that are activated by NF-κB are important for cellular responses to stress, injury and inflammation. Triggers for these states are therefore associated with NF-κB activation 35.

In immune responses, NF-κB target genes are involved in inflammation, cellular organization and differentiation and proliferation. Tissue macrophages are the major source of NF-κB-induced proinflammatory cytokines 363738. NF-κB-induced cytokines such as TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 activate innate responses in RA, leading to the release of C-reactive protein (CRP) and complement, and to upregulation of adhesion molecules by endothelial cells (EC). NF-κB-induced chemokines, including IL-8, MIP-1α, MCP-1, RANTES and eotaxin, and growth factors such as granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor, mobilize and redirect myeloid cells to inflamed tissue 3940414243. A similar set of responses to those that occur in response to infection therefore also occurs in rheumatoid inflammation. NF-κB also plays an important role in lymphoid organogenesis through the induction of the chemokines CXC12, CXCL13, CCL21 and CCL19 4445464748. Mice lacking the RelB subunit of NF-κB lack peripheral lymph nodes 49.

Two major subsets of DC, known as myeloid DC and plasmacytoid DC, are described in humans. Both subtypes have the capacity for activation, in response to particular TLR or T-cell ligands, with resulting effects on antigen presentation and cytokine production. Major subsets of myeloid DC include those in epithelial tissues, known as Langerhans cells, and those in other tissues, known as interstitial DC. All have the capacity for tolerance as well as potent antigen-presenting function. Plasmacytoid DC represent a distinct population of APC which also produce large amounts of cytokines, including TNF and IFN-α – particularly after stimulation by viruses, double-stranded RNA, CpG DNA motifs and CD154 (Table 1) 505152535455.

HLA-DR gene variation in the major histocompatability locus (MHC) is the strongest gene region associated with RA. A second major association is the tyrosine phosphatase PTPN22 gene, in which a gain-of-function polymorphism reduces the T-cell activation response to antigen. This appears to be a general susceptibility polymorphism for a number of autoimmune diseases, which is hypothesized to reduce the capacity of thymocytes for negative selection towards self-antigen 56. A weaker association of RA with the MHC class II transactivator gene (MHC2TA) – a protein clearly involved in antigen processing and presentation in the class II pathway – has been reported in several populations, but has not been consistently replicated 57. Like some of the cytokine gene polymorphisms, one might rather predict this gene to modify RA severity. An association with a functional polymorphism with a gene encoding the peptidyl-arginine deiminase enzyme (PADI4), which catalyses citrullination of arginine, has been identified in Japanese populations 5859. Citrullination is a physiological process of protein alteration occurring during apoptosis and inflammation. Citrullination has been described to occur during macrophage activation, during antigen-specific priming and as a response to smoking 606162, and it replaces charged imino arginine side-chain groups with uncharged carbonyl groups. The RA HLA association has been mapped to the third hypervariable region of DRβ-chains, especially amino acids 70–74, encoding a conserved amino acid sequence that forms the fourth anchoring pocket (P4) in the HLA groove. This susceptibility sequence, known as the 'shared epitope', is found in multiple RA-associated DR molecules 63. The shared epitope is positively charged and thus has the capacity to bind proteins or peptides containing a negatively charged or nonpolar amino acid.

Genetic factors contribute about two-thirds of the risk for the development of RA. Evidence for a gene–environment interaction has emerged from twin studies 64. Significant environmental risk factors include cigarette smoking, parturition and lactation, and mineral oil exposure, and relevant protective factors include use of the oral contraceptive pill and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables 65. Finally, Epstein–Barr virus exposure and a greater Epstein–Barr viral load is associated with RA. Epstein–Barr virus has immunomodulatory effects, including B-cell activation, and could potentially contribute cross-reactive viral peptides or antibodies 6667.

Anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) autoantibodies and rheumatoid factor are more probable in RA patients who smoke 606468. In view of evidence that smoking promotes citrullination of self-proteins, therefore, it has been proposed that smoking promotes anti-CCP in those with at-risk HLA genotypes 60. Indeed, although the clinical phenotype is similar, anti-CCP-negative, shared epitope-negative RA is likely to be driven by different autoantigens, genetic and environmental factors. More than one subset of RA may constitute this group. In consideration of the multiple mechanisms driving different animal models of autoimmune arthritis, and the heterogeneity of the response to treatment among patients, mechanisms of disease may be similar to anti-CCP-positive, shared epitope-positive RA in some subsets, but very different in others 6970717273. Various roles of DC in autoimmune arthritis are described below.

'Central' tolerance defects are important contributors to spontaneous autoimmune disease. In the foetal and neonatal period, central tolerance is actively maintained in the thymus 74. During this process, a repertoire of T cells restricted to self-MHC displayed by the thymic cortical epithelial cells is selected in each individual. In addition, those T cells reactive to self-antigen expressed and presented by medullary APC, which include medullary epithelial cells and medullary DC, are deleted by negative selection above a threshold of affinity for self-antigens presented by those APC 75. Since an affinity threshold applies for central deletion of self-reactive T cells, circulation of low-affinity self-reactive T cells in the periphery is inevitable. Self-antigen is commonly ignored by these T cells, however, because their affinity threshold is below that required for self-antigen priming in the periphery.

In various spontaneous autoimmune animal models, defects pertaining to the interaction of APC and thymocytes interferes with the normal process of negative selection. Unlike the normal situation, this permits the release of dangerously autoreactive T cells into the periphery, where subsequent genetic or environmental proinflammatory events more readily trigger the priming of these T cells and the development of autoimmune disease 69. An example is the skg mouse model of spontaneous arthritis, resembling RA, in which DC activated by fungal β-glucans prime autoreactive peripheral T cells, in an IL-1-dependent fashion, which can then drive the proliferation of autoantibodies and a proinflammatory arthritogenic response 76. Alternatively, to initiate autoimmunity, peripheral DC may prime the immune system to respond to modified self-antigens, potentially generated for the first time in the periphery, either circumventing central tolerance mechanisms or compounding central defects. As described later, self-proteins modified by citrullination in the periphery are important autoantigens presented by DC in RA, and in the murine collagen-induced arthritis model.

DC play an essential role in the priming of lymphocytes in autoimmunity 877. Presentation of viral or modified self-antigens, of which the immune system has been ignorant, represents a common theme in the initiation of autoimmunity. Several autoantigens are described in RA, including a variety of post-translationally modified citrullinated proteins. In the collagen-induced arthritis model of autoimmune arthritis, anti-CCP develop spontaneously and have been shown to play a pathogenetic role, in that they are found prior to visible clinical disease. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies directed against citrullinated proteins were shown to bind antigens within inflamed synovium and to enhance submaximal disease. Mice tolerized with a citrulline-containing peptide demonstrated significantly reduced disease severity and incidence compared with control mice 78.

Shared epitope-encoding HLA alleles are particularly associated with anti-CCP-positive RA 607980. Citrullination replaces charged imino side-chain groups with an uncharged carbonyl group, increasing the affinity of citrullinated proteins with the shared epitope. Fibrin and vimentin are two citrullinated proteins identified thus far in synovial extracts from inflamed joints, and are prominent synovial candidate antigens in anti-CCP-positive RA 8182. Citrullinated collagen types I and II and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G1 are further protein candidates 83. Citrullinated self-proteins produced in inflamed synovial tissue are therefore probably taken up, processed and presented by activated synovial DC to prime populations of citrulline self-peptide-specific T cells in draining lymph nodes 78. In some cases, peptides might be derived from regurgitated digestion by macrophages, as DC have limited capacity to process large, complex proteins such as type II collagen and fibrinogen 84. Other proteins such as vimentin may be acquired by ingestion of apoptotic macrophages. Effector function, including cytokine production and B-cell and monocyte help, of autoantigen-specific memory T cells trafficking to joints would be boosted by local DC presenting citrullinated peptides. Antigen-specific T cells are critical for the promotion of autoantibody production, and for driving monocyte activation and cytokine production. These T cells would promote production of anti-CCP autoantibodies in follicular areas of RA synovial tissue and lymphoid organs (Figure 2).

Given the disease-enhancing capacity of anti-CCP in murine models, presentation of citrullinated antigens complexed with anti-CCP antibodies may be facilitated through the opsonizing effects of antibody and complement. Cross-linking by rheumatoid factor may enhance Fc-dependent inflammatory responses 8586. Autoantigenic immune complexes have been shown, in murine models of arthritis, to promote vascular permeability necessary for continued enhanced traffic of inflammatory cells into the synovial compartment 87. Immune complexes have been demonstrated in RA for over 30 years, and have recently been described for citrullinated type II collagen 8586. Citrulline-reactive T cells have been demonstrated in DRB1*0401-transgenic mice, and have also been observed after priming of naïve mice to foreign hen egg lysozyme antigen, but have not yet been convincingly determined in RA patients 6182.

Other autoantigenic specificities than citrulline are also described in RA, which would be presented in a similar way by DC. These include type II collagen, human cartilage gp39 in about 60% of RA, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase in a much smaller proportion of patients 88. It remains to be seen whether these autoimmune specificities segregate with particular HLA-DR-presenting elements.

Gene transcriptional activity of the NF-κB family is characteristic of the RA inflammatory lesion. There are two major pathways of NF-κB: the classical pathway (comprising homodimers and heterodimers of RelA, c-Rel and p50), and the alternate pathway (comprising RelB and p52). In DC, the classical pathway drives transcription of prosurvival and pro-inflammatory response genes, including cytokines such as IL-6, TNF and IL-12. The alternate pathway controls DC maturation for antigen-presenting function, medullary thymic epithelial cell development required for negative selection, and mature monocyte development (for review see 35).

In B cells, signals such as TNF and TLR ligands drive classical pathway activation and B-cell activation factor of the TNF ligand family (BAFF), and CD154 drive the alternate pathway. However, TNF, TLR agonists or CD154 signal activation of both pathways uniquely in DC, through exchange of NF-κB dimers in the nucleus 89. Moreover, DC make little or no response to BAFF.

Given its role in DC function, immunohistochemical detection of nuclear RelB is an excellent marker of functionally differentiated DC in perivascular regions of synovial tissue biopsies from patients with untreated RA, and can be used to quantitate mature DC in biopsies 169091. Most disease-modifying or biologic therapies block at least the classical NF-κB pathway. Since this will lead to reduction of RelB activity in DC, numbers of synovial nuclear RelB⁺ DC have been shown to decrease after treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs 91. Furthermore, incidence and severity of antigen-induced arthritis was considerably reduced in RelB-deficient bone marrow chimeric mice compared with control mice 92. In contrast to the inflammatory setting, precursors of immature myeloid DC in peripheral blood express neither RelB mRNA nor protein 90. Nuclear RelB⁺ cells are also absent in normal nonlymphoid peripheral tissues, such as normal synovial tissue and epithelia 93. RelB⁺ DC in rheumatoid synovial tissue closely resemble mature interdigitating lymph node DC 909495. Mature myeloid DC in perivascular, T-cell-enriched areas of synovial tissue are further characterized by expression of CD86, DC-LAMP and CCR7, and are associated with, and presumably attracted by, cells expressing the chemokines CCL19 (SLC) and CCL21 (ELC) 111694. In contrast, immature DC are also abundant in the synovial lining and sublining layers of the synovium associated with CCL20 (MIP-3α)-expressing cells, as well as in rheumatoid nodules and the synovial fluid. In synovial tissue the immature DC are characterized by CCR6 and CD1a expression, and in nodules by CMRF-44 and CD14 expression 1196. Local transforming growth factor beta may play a role in the maintaining DC in an immature state or in the upregulation of CD1a expression 97.

DC and macrophages contribute very early in the development of autoimmune inflammatory lesions in mouse models, such as autoimmune diabetes and polyarthritis, to produce local cytokines, including TNF 9899100. DC have also been shown in diabetic models to stimulate ectopic lymphoid tissue development by lymphotoxin-β receptor signalling, and blockade of this signal has been shown to be sufficient to block disease development 8101102. While so far little studied in the joint, this research is now technically feasible with the development of CD11c-DTR mice, in which DC can be transiently depleted 103.

DC enter synovial tissue by means of inflamed synovial blood vessels and are chemoattracted there by virtue of specific chemokine receptor expression, in response to CX3CL1 (fractalkine), CCL19 (SLC), CCL21 (ELC) and CCL20 (MIP-3α). These chemokines play an important role in driving the inflammatory disease. For example, ectopic expression of CCL19 has been shown sufficient for formation of lymphoid tissue similar to that seen in rheumatoid synovial tissue 104. Inhibition of CX3CL1 has been shown to reduce clinical scores in the murine collagen-induced arthritis model 105. RA synovial DC have also been shown to produce high levels of CCL18 (DCCK1), a chemotactic factor for naïve T cells and a stimulator of collagen production by fibroblasts 106. The sustained immunomodulatory effect of TNF blockade in RA relates in part to reduction of traffic of DC and other immunocytes to the inflammatory site 107.

Increased numbers of myeloid and plasmacytoid DC are observed in synovial fluid and perivascular regions of synovial tissues in patients with RA and other autoimmune rheumatic diseases, in which cells producing TNF are colocated 101216108109. Plasmacytoid DC are recruited to normal lymphoid organs as well as inflammatory sites including RA synovial tissue with local differentiation, but there is no recruitment to normal peripheral tissues 110 (Table 1). These DC are likely to play an important pro-inflammatory role, particularly after sensing immunostimulatory nucleic acid sequences. In contrast, myeloid DC precursors populate normal resting synovial tissues – but additional CD11c⁺ myeloid cellular recruitment takes place at the RA synovial inflammatory site in response to inflammatory chemokines, where RelB nuclear translocation associated with DC maturation may take place 16. Nuclear RelB⁺ DC in inflamed joints are generally found closely associated with T lymphocytes 169093, which may signal the alternate NF-κB pathway through proinflammatory cytokines, CD154 (CD40L) and lymphotoxin-β 111112.

The antigen-presenting and antigen-priming functions of DC to autoreactive T cells appear to be very proximal events and to be essential to the subsequent pathogenesis of disease, including the generation of autoantibodies in patients at risk due to genetic and environmental factors. From several different animal arthritic models, it is clear that proinflammatory stimuli driving TNF, IL-1 or NF-κB p50 are all sufficient to drive the development of autoimmune polyarthritis in susceptible strains, through the simultaneous promotion of DC or monocyte activation, priming of autoreactive lymphocytes, and sustained synovial inflammation 70113114115. It is of interest when considering the environmental associations with RA that several factors, including nicotine, lactation and Epstein–Barr virus, promote NF-κB activity, associated either with B-cell activation or TNF secretion by myeloid cells including monocytes and DC 116117118119.

In contrast, pregnancy and the oral contraceptive pill as well as high fruit and Mediterranean diets are RA protective. Combinations of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologics can induce RA clinical remission 120. Many disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs and natural substances are able to suppress NF-κB, including the RelB subunit, which is critical for DC priming function. These include 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D, glucocorticoids and active components of turmeric, red wine, mangoes and other fruits 121. Taken together, both human and murine evidence indicates that NF-κB activation is required to drive RA, and indicates those factors that suppress this activity are disease-suppressive or protective 38114122.

Cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity are increased in RA patients, with traditional cardiovascular risk factors insufficient to explain the increase in risk 123. Considerable evidence demonstrates that inflammation associated with RA plays a key role in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis in these patients. RA patients also have an increased burden of subclinical vascular disease compared with matched control individuals, as demonstrated by the carotid intima-media thickness and endothelial dysfunction 124125. Atherosclerotic disease is associated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP levels in RA, and the mean CRP level over time predicts peripheral endothelial function 125126.

The atherosclerotic lesion represents a set of highly specific inflammatory cellular and molecular responses including abundant infiltration by monocytes, macrophages and T cells, together with CRP and complement. Immune mechanisms have been postulated in atherogenesis, in view of elevated values of circulating inflammatory markers such as CRP, serum amyloid A, IL-6 and IL-1 receptor antagonist, accompanying acute coronary syndromes 127128.

Atherosclerosis occurs principally in large and medium-sized elastic and muscular arteries, and can lead to ischemia of various organs including the heart, the brain or extremities. This process starts as asymmetrical focal thickenings of the vascular intima, which is infiltrated with inflammatory cells as a result of stimuli such as oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or infection 129. Circulating rheumatoid factor and other immune complexes may also cause direct injury to vascular EC with the same result 130. Monocytes are the first cells to attach to the endothelium and migrate into the underlying subendothelial space. Initially, resident monocytes differentiate into macrophages accumulating intracellular modified forms of LDL to form fatty streak lesions 128. This is followed by continued recruitment of monocytes, T cells and natural killer T cells, mast cells and DC to form raised fibro-fatty plaques, in which the central lipid and foamy macrophage core is surrounded by immune cells and then proliferating smooth muscle cells and a collagen-rich matrix. T cells within these plaques are characterized by a Th1-type phenotype, and produce IFN-γ and TNF. The fibrous cap prevents contact between the prothrombotic lesion and the blood. Plaques can develop a range of complications, particularly rupture and thrombosis, with clinical consequences including myocardial infarction and stroke 131.

DC have been identified in atherosclerotic plaques in humans, and in rats with diet-induced hyperlipidemia, and are thought to play an important role in atherogenesis 132. As noted for the inflamed synovium, DC are highly migratory, and probably traffic between the blood and the arterial intima across vascular EC, across the penetrating vasa vasorum that supply the arterial wall, and to the draining lymph nodes. In support, DC can be detected between smooth muscle cells in the medial layer of vessels. They are markedly increased in media underlying atherosclerotic plaques compared with adjacent media of nonatherosclerotic areas, suggesting that some intimal vascular DC migrate through the media and adventitia to adjacent lymph node, where they could present atherosclerosis-associated antigens 133.

Of interest with respect to RA, an autoimmune hypothesis has been proposed for atherogenesis, which incorporates the concept of vascular-associated lymphoid tissue – analogous to mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Vascular-associated lymphoid tissue consists of disseminated focal accumulations of immuno-competent cells, including DC, in the subendothelial layer of the arteries 134. DC are found in healthy human arterial walls and accumulate most densely in arterial regions subjected to major haemodynamic stress under turbulent flow conditions known to predispose to development of atherosclerosis, as a consequence of chronic inflammatory stress in these regions 135. As in the joint, more than 90% of DC in atherosclerotic lesions colocalize with T cells located in neovascularization areas associated with inflammatory infiltrates 133. In support of the role of inflammation in this pathological process, DC function has been reported to be increased in patients with unstable angina. As in the synovium, DC are important APC and effector cells in the inflammatory process, which is associated with plaque instability and vulnerability toward rupture 136.

EC play a pivotal role in the inflammatory response. EC activation promotes vascular permeability, oedema and leukocyte recruitment. Endothelial dysfunction has been shown to precede both the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and specific inflammation of joints following an immune stimulus. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 is induced in response to EC injury, and in animal models it plays a key role in the recruitment of monocytes and other immune cells to intimal plaques 131. Several studies have demonstrated that endothelial dysfunction is associated with high inflammatory activity in RA, is present early in the disease course, and improves after treatment with antirheumatic drugs 137138. Inflammation-associated endothelial dysfunction has a significant impact on DC maturation and adherence to the endothelium. For example, DC adhesion and transmigration are markedly increased after exposing EC to hypoxia, oxidized LDL or TNF. EC express TLR2 and TLR4, which may transduce inflammatory, proatherogenic signals, including HSP-60, oxidized LDL and microorganisms 139140. DC and other immune cells within plaques, as in RA synovium, show evidence of NF-κB activation, resulting from both TLRs and signals from cytokines, such as TNF 141. It has been proposed that lymph node-migratory DC prime HSP-60, oxidized LDL or bacterial antigen-specific T cells in vascular draining lymph nodes, and that effector T cells can be restimulated by mature DC in the vascular lesion, leading to release of cytokines, which promote atherosclerotic disease 142143144.

Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for the atherosclerotic process in general. Dyslipidemia in RA is mainly driven by a low concentration of high-density lipoprotein, associated with an unfavourable cardiovascular risk. Total cholesterol levels and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in RA are inversely associated with the acute phase response, regardless of whether patients are treated with antirheumatic drugs 145. Of importance, the acute phase response promotes oxidative modification of LDL. Oxidized LDL in turn promotes mature DC generation from monocytes, and probably provides a source of atherogenic autoantigen 146147. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein have also been shown to impair DC migration to draining lymph nodes in a mouse model, with implications for the local proinflammatory activity of oxidized LDL-activated DC in the atherosclerotic lesion 148.

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of RA, as discussed above, and of cardiovascular disease in RA 149150. Nicotine promotes progression of advanced atherosclerotic plaques, but also activates NF-κB, with augmented APC function and proinflammatory cytokine secretion 151152153. Nicotine significantly enhances the recruitment of DC to atherosclerotic lesions in a mouse model. Smoking is also an important contributor to the association of RA and cardiovascular disease, either reflecting its role as a risk factor in its own right or because it is associated with more severe rheumatoid disease. While CRP and rheumatoid factor are associated with more severe atherosclerotic disease in RA, no association has been shown to date for anti-CCP, despite the association of smoking with anti-CCP in RA. This may relate to very specific roles played by CRP and rheumatoid factor at the vascular endothelium or within plaques.

DC play critical antigen-presenting and antigen-priming roles in the initiation of RA and atherosclerosis, as well as proinflammatory roles in RA and atherosclerosis. Various signals that promote the activation of NF-κB and the secretion of TNF and IL-1 drive the maturation of DC to prime self-specific responses, and drive the perpetuation of synovial and vascular inflammation. These signals may include infection, cigarette smoking, immunostimulatory DNA, oxidized LDL and primary genetic lesions. The pathogenesis of RA and atherosclerosis is intimately linked, with the vascular disease of RA driven by similar and simultaneous triggers. Understanding this link has implications for discovery of NF-κB response genes that might modify the risk or expression of RA in an individual exposed to environmental factors, as well as the ability of a given treatment regimen to halt disease progression in joints or vasculature. Finally, discovery of the key role of NF-κB to DC function has opened the door for new antigen-specific strategies using NF-κB-inhibitory drugs to target DC with antigen, avoiding systemic toxicity associated with such compounds.

anti-CCP = anticyclic citrullinated peptide; APC = antigen-presenting cells; CRP = C-reactive protein; DC = dendritic cells; EC = endothelial cells; Fc = crystallizable fragment; IFN = interferon; IL = interleukin; LDL = low-density lipoprotein; MHC = major histocompatability complex; NF = nuclear factor; RA = rheumatoid arthritis; TLR = Toll-like receptor; TNF = tumour necrosis factor.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

This review is part of a series on Cells of the synovium in rheumatoid arthritis edited by Gary Firestein.

Other articles in this series can be found at http://arthritis-research.com/articles/review-series.asp?series=ar_Cells