Increased expression of CD40/TRAF1 and activation of nuclear factor-κκB-dependent proinflammatory gene expression in collagen-induced arthritis

Abstract

Our data identify a cellular/molecular mechanism of the CD40/TRAF1 signalling pathway involved in CIA: increased expression of CD40 and its adaptor TRAF1 proteins and activation of the NF-κB-dependent proinflammatory pathway. These correlations implicate possible mechanistic pathways in this model that may also operate in human RA and thus provide rationales for new therapeutic modalities.