The cytokine network in juvenile chronic arthritis.

This article is an overview of the cytokine network in patients with different types of juvenile chronic arthritis. The concept of the production of TH1-cell or TH2-cell differentiation as a result of cytokine production and the concept of the balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines are explored. The balance of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines could be altered as a result differences in the expression levels of a number of key cytokines and could be the critical events leading to chronic inflammation. Identifying molecular targets for intervention therapy to change the balance of the cytokine network is proposed.