Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics for Rheumatoid Arthritis Responsiveness to Methotrexate Treatment: The 2013 Update

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of multiple peripheral joints, which leads to serious destruction of cartilage and bone, progressive deformity and severe disability. Methotrexate (MTX) is one of the first-line drugs commonly used in RA therapy owing to its excellent long-term efficacy and cheapness. However, the efficacy and toxicity of MTX treatment have significant interpatient variability. Genetic factors contribute to this variability. In this review, we have summarized and updated the progress of RA response to MTX treatment since 2009 by focusing on the fields of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics. Identification of genetic factors involved in MTX treatment response will increase the understanding of RA pathology and the development of new personalized treatments.

KEYWORDS::

• methotrexate
• pharmacogenetics
• pharmacogenomics
• rheumatoid arthritis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The study was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (31271336, 31071097, 81373010), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20130300), the Startup Fund from Soochow University (Q413900112, Q413900712), the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry, and a Project of the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (31271336, 31071097, 81373010), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20130300), the Startup Fund from Soochow University (Q413900112, Q413900712), the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry, and a Project of the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.