Tenascin-C is an endogenous activator of Toll-like receptor 4 that is essential for maintaining inflammation in arthritic joint disease.

Journal article

Although there have been major advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with the advent of biological agents, the mechanisms that drive cytokine production and sustain disease chronicity remain unknown. Tenascin-C (encoded by Tnc) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein specifically expressed at areas of inflammation and tissue damage in inflamed rheumatoid joints. Here we show that mice that do not express tenascin-C show rapid resolution of acute joint inflammation and are protecte...

Expand abstract

Authors: Midwood, K; Sacre, S; Piccinini, A; Inglis, J; Trebaul, A

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Nature medicine
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 774-780
• Publication date: 2009-07-01
• DOI: 10.1038/nm.1987
• EISSN: 1546-170X
• ISSN: 1078-8956
• Language: English
• Keywords: Arthritis; Humans; Toll-Like Receptor 4; Cells, Cultured; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Tenascin; Cytokines; Lipopolysaccharides; Mice; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; Animals