To the Editor:
We thank Xie and colleagues for their comments1 on our article2 and for applying expertise to this question of interleukin 22 (IL-22) as a possible therapeutic target in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and as a promising candidate biomarker.
Novel cytokines have emerged recently as contributing to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Knowledge about the role of IL-22 in autoimmune diseases is increasing and may reveal new therapeutic options for modulation of this cytokine. The role of IL-22 has been investigated in other inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis3 …
Address correspondence to Dr. M.G.R. Pitta, UFPE, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife PE, 50670-901, Brazil., E-mail: mgrpitta{at}gmail.com