| abstract |
Synovial CRH functions in a paracrine manner to induce the nuclear transcription factor NURR1, which is abundantly expressed in the inflammatory cells of both rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis synovium. This induction is suppressed by glucocorticoids. The invention is directed to the pivotal role the NURR subfamily of transcription factors plays in modulation of peripheral CRH and CRH-mediated signaling through the CRH-receptor subtype R1α, particularly in the inflammatory process in human arthritis. |