B cell targets in rheumatoid arthritis -- Co-stimulatory pathways in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis -- Immunobiology of IL-6 — Tocilizumab (humanised anti-IL-6 receptor antibody) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis -- Role of IL-1 in erosive arthritis, lessons from animal models -- Interleukin-15 -- IL-17 and Th17 cells, key players in arthritis -- Role of IL-18 in inflammatory diseases -- Chemokines and chemokine receptors -- Signaling pathways in rheumatoid arthritis -- Targeting oncostatin M in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis -- Targeting the epigenetic modifications of synovial cells -- Perspectives in targeted therapy.

The volume focuses on therapeutic targets that were identified after TNF blockade and that have recently been registered or are currently under development for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Each chapter discusses the biological rationale in great detail, including in vitro work and work in animal models, and where appropriate, results from clinical trials. The book is written by an international authorship of experts in this field. It is of interest to rheumatologists, immunologists, internists, investigators in immunology and rheumatology as well as the pharmaceutical industry.