Skip to main content
Top

03-01-2025 | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Review

Unraveling the hormonal approaches for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and its complementary interventions

Authors: Priya Sharad Waghmare, Deepika Kaushik, Emel Oz, Charalampos Proestos, Fatih Oz, Mukul Kumar

Published in: Inflammopharmacology

Login to get access

Abstract

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, chronic, systemic inflammatory disease that causes redness, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain. It is a long-lasting disease that can have a widespread impact on the body, often affecting the hands, feet, and wrists. The immune cells, such as dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, macrophages, and neutrophils, play a significant role in bone degradation and inflammation. Several cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-17A, play a significant role in causing bone erosion, cartilage deterioration, and joint inflammation. Progesterone and estrogen have a crucial impact on the pathophysiology of RA, influencing the immune system. Research has demonstrated that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can effectively reduce inflammation, improve disease activity, enhance joint health, alleviate pain, and promote bone strength. Treatments such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), are effective against chronic inflammatory illnesses like RA. The treatment with Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has an impact on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, which in turn affects the activity of RA illness. These alternative treatments hold promise in enhancing well-being and alleviating joint pain for individuals with RA.
Literature
go back to reference Alpízar-Rodríguez D, Pluchino N, Canny G, Gabay C, Finckh A (2016) The role of female hormonal factors in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol 56(8):1254–1263 Alpízar-Rodríguez D, Pluchino N, Canny G, Gabay C, Finckh A (2016) The role of female hormonal factors in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol 56(8):1254–1263
go back to reference Aryaeian N, Mahmoudi M, Shahram F, Poursani S, Jamshidi F, Tavakoli H (2019) The effect of ginger supplementation on IL2, TNFα, and IL1β cytokines gene expression levels in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Med J Islam Repub Iran 33:154PubMedPubMedCentral Aryaeian N, Mahmoudi M, Shahram F, Poursani S, Jamshidi F, Tavakoli H (2019) The effect of ginger supplementation on IL2, TNFα, and IL1β cytokines gene expression levels in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Med J Islam Repub Iran 33:154PubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Askari G, Aghajani M, Salehi M, Najafgholizadeh A, Keshavarzpour Z, Fadel A, Venkatakrishnan K, Salehi-sahlabadi A, Hadi A, Pourmasoumi M (2020) The effects of ginger supplementation on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Herb Med 22:100364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2020.100364CrossRef Askari G, Aghajani M, Salehi M, Najafgholizadeh A, Keshavarzpour Z, Fadel A, Venkatakrishnan K, Salehi-sahlabadi A, Hadi A, Pourmasoumi M (2020) The effects of ginger supplementation on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Herb Med 22:100364. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​hermed.​2020.​100364CrossRef
go back to reference Chou P-C, Chu H-Y (2018) Clinical efficacy of acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis and associated mechanisms: a systemic review. Evidence-Based Complementary Alternative Med 2018(1):8596918CrossRef Chou P-C, Chu H-Y (2018) Clinical efficacy of acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis and associated mechanisms: a systemic review. Evidence-Based Complementary Alternative Med 2018(1):8596918CrossRef
go back to reference Cojocaru M, Cojocaru IM, Silosi I, Vrabie CD, Tanasescu R (2010) Extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis. Maedica 5(4):286–291PubMedPubMedCentral Cojocaru M, Cojocaru IM, Silosi I, Vrabie CD, Tanasescu R (2010) Extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis. Maedica 5(4):286–291PubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Cutolo M, Capellino S, Montagna P, Villaggio B, Sulli A, Seriolo B, Straub RH (2003) New roles for estrogens in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 21:687–690PubMed Cutolo M, Capellino S, Montagna P, Villaggio B, Sulli A, Seriolo B, Straub RH (2003) New roles for estrogens in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 21:687–690PubMed
go back to reference D’Elia HF, Larsen A et al (2003) Influence of hormone replacement therapy on disease progression and bone mineral density in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 30:1456–1463PubMed D’Elia HF, Larsen A et al (2003) Influence of hormone replacement therapy on disease progression and bone mineral density in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 30:1456–1463PubMed
go back to reference Gubbels Bupp MR, Jorgensen TN (2018) Androgen-Induced Immunosuppression. Front Immunol 9:370132CrossRef Gubbels Bupp MR, Jorgensen TN (2018) Androgen-Induced Immunosuppression. Front Immunol 9:370132CrossRef
go back to reference Kaur A, Parminder N, Jasvinder N (2012) Herbal plants used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a review. Int J Pharm Sci 4:44–57 Kaur A, Parminder N, Jasvinder N (2012) Herbal plants used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a review. Int J Pharm Sci 4:44–57
go back to reference Marques P, De Sousa Lages A, Skorupskaite K, Rozario KS, Anderson RA, George JT (2000) Physiology of GnRH and Gonadotrophin Secretion. Endotext [internet] Marques P, De Sousa Lages A, Skorupskaite K, Rozario KS, Anderson RA, George JT (2000) Physiology of GnRH and Gonadotrophin Secretion. Endotext [internet]
go back to reference McCall C, M (2013) How might Yoga Work? An Overview of Potential Underlying Mechanisms. J Yoga Phys Ther 3(1):1CrossRef McCall C, M (2013) How might Yoga Work? An Overview of Potential Underlying Mechanisms. J Yoga Phys Ther 3(1):1CrossRef
go back to reference Raine C, Giles I (2022) What is the impact of sex hormones on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis? Front Med 9:909879CrossRef Raine C, Giles I (2022) What is the impact of sex hormones on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis? Front Med 9:909879CrossRef
go back to reference Schmidt M, Weidler C, Naumann H, Anders S, Schölmerich J, Straub RH (2005) Androgen conversion in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis synoviocytes – androstenedione and testosterone inhibit estrogen formation and favor production of more potent 5α-reduced androgens. Arthritis Res Ther 7:R938. https://doi.org/10.1186/ar1769CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Schmidt M, Weidler C, Naumann H, Anders S, Schölmerich J, Straub RH (2005) Androgen conversion in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis synoviocytes – androstenedione and testosterone inhibit estrogen formation and favor production of more potent 5α-reduced androgens. Arthritis Res Ther 7:R938. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1186/​ar1769CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Sugiyama N, Terry FE et al (2024) Individual and population-level variability in HLA-DR associated immunogenicity risk of biologics used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Front Immunol 15:1377911CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Sugiyama N, Terry FE et al (2024) Individual and population-level variability in HLA-DR associated immunogenicity risk of biologics used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Front Immunol 15:1377911CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Verhagen AP, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Boers M, Cardoso JR, Lambeck J, de Bie R, de Vet HC (2004) Balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. In: Verhagen AP (ed) Cochrane Database Syst Rev. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, p CD000518 Verhagen AP, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Boers M, Cardoso JR, Lambeck J, de Bie R, de Vet HC (2004) Balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. In: Verhagen AP (ed) Cochrane Database Syst Rev. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, p CD000518
go back to reference Ye X, Chen Z, Shen Z, Chen G, Xu X (2020) Yoga for treating rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Med 7:586665CrossRef Ye X, Chen Z, Shen Z, Chen G, Xu X (2020) Yoga for treating rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Med 7:586665CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Unraveling the hormonal approaches for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and its complementary interventions
Authors
Priya Sharad Waghmare
Deepika Kaushik
Emel Oz
Charalampos Proestos
Fatih Oz
Mukul Kumar
Publication date
03-01-2025
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Inflammopharmacology
Print ISSN: 0925-4692
Electronic ISSN: 1568-5608
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-024-01633-6