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Behçet’s disease (BD) is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers, cutaneous inflammation, and uveitis. In addition, other potentially life-threatening lesions may occur in the intestinal tract, blood vessels, and central nervous system. This heterogeneity of the BD phenotype hampers development of a targeted treatment strategy. The pathogenesis of BD is not fully elucidated, but it is likely that genetically susceptible people develop BD in response to environmental factors, such as microbiome factors. Genetic analyses have identified various BD susceptibility loci that function in HLA-antigen presentation pathways, Th1 and Th17 cells, and autoinflammation related to monocytes/macrophages, or that increase levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduce levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, or act in dysfunctional mucous barriers. Our functional analyses have revealed that impairment of M2 monocyte/macrophage-mediated anti-inflammatory function through IL-10 is crucial to BD pathogenesis. We, therefore, propose that BD is an M1-dominant disease. In this review, we describe the roles of monocytes and macrophages in BD and consider the potential of these cells as therapeutic targets.

Objectives This study aimed to determine the clinical efficacy of apremilast for oral ulcers (OUs), extra-oral manifestations, and overall disease activity in patients with Behçet’s disease (BD). Methods A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science Core Collection. Studies assessing the treatment effects of apremilast in BD were included. The odds ratios (ORs) of being symptom-free for individual manifestations and mean difference (MD) of Behçet’s Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) scores were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) at 12 and 24 weeks using a random-model meta-analysis. Results Of 259 screened articles, eight were included. After 12 weeks of apremilast treatment the OR of symptom-free was as followings: OUs, 45.76 (95% CI, 13.23–158.31); genital ulcers, 4.56 (95% CI, 2.47–8.44); erythema nodosum, 3.59 (95% CI, 1.11–11.61); pseudofolliculitis, 2.81 (95% CI, 1.29–6.15); and arthritis, 3.55 (95% CI, 1.71–7.40). Furthermore, BDCAF scores at 12 weeks were significantly reduced (MD=−1.38; −1.78 to −0.99). However, the proportion of oral-ulcer-free patients increased at 24 weeks (OR = 14.88; 4.81 to 46.07). Conclusions The currently accumulated data indicate an improvement in mucocutaneous and articular symptoms by short-term apremilast treatment in patients with BD.

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