FIGURE 1.

The inflammatory environment in RA synovium. The RA tissue microenvironment is characterized by the accumulation of cytokines, adipo-cytokines and metabolic intermediates produced by the accelerated metabolism of infiltrating and tissue resident immune cells. These events can promote or be the consequence of a dysregulation in several metabolic pathways (red), including glycolysis, TCA cycle, PPP and lipid metabolism, which regulate many cell functions including activation, differentiation, proliferation, autoantibody and cytokine production leading to pro-inflammatory immune responses and the exacerbation of chronic inflammation.