Article
Rheumatology
Changrong Ge, Sylvia Weisse, Bingze Xu, Doreen Dobritzsch, Johan Viljanen, Jan Kihlberg, Nhu-Nguyen Do, Nadine Schneider, Harald Lanig, Rikard Holmdahl, Harald Burkhardt
Summary: This study characterizes the autoantigen-presenting function of DRB1*04:01 and investigates T-cell responses to a specific peptide in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, revealing the importance of glycosylation of lysine residues in T-cell recognition.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiao-Hong He, Yun-Ting Xiao, Wen-Ying Chen, Mao-Jie Wang, Xiao-Dong Wu, Li-Yan Mei, Kai-Xin Gao, Qing-Chun Huang, Run-Yue Huang, Xiu-Min Chen
Summary: This study profiled serum miRNAs in seronegative RA patients, seropositive RA patients, and healthy controls. The expression levels of certain miRNAs were found to be different between the groups. The target genes and molecular pathways regulated by miRNAs in seronegative and seropositive RA were found to be similar, indicating the involvement of miRNAs in the immune system in the development of these diseases. The findings of this study provide potential biomarkers and targets for the diagnosis and treatment of seronegative and seropositive RA.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Amanda J. Eakin, Tahanver Ahmed, Cathy M. McGeough, Stephen Drain, H. Denis Alexander, Gary D. Wright, Philip Gardiner, Dawn Small, Anthony J. Bjourson, David S. Gibson
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the numbers and phenotypes of circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) and monocytes. It also explores the potential sialic acid link between Tregs and monocytes and the effects of sialic acid on Treg activation and cytokine release.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Cristina Regueiro, Desire Casares-Marfil, Karin Lundberg, Rachel Knevel, Marialbert Acosta-Herrera, Luis Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Raquel Lopez-Mejias, Eva Perez-Pampin, Ana Triguero-Martinez, Laura Nuno, Ivan Ferraz-Amaro, Javier Rodriguez-Carrio, Rosario Lopez-Pedrera, Montse Robustillo-Villarino, Santos Castaneda, Sara Remuzgo-Martinez, Mercedes Alperi, Juan J. Alegre-Sancho, Alejandro Balsa, Isidoro Gonzalez-Alvaro, Antonio Mera, Benjamin Fernandez-Gutierrez, Miguel A. Gonzalez-Gay, Leendert A. Trouw, Caroline Gronwall, Leonid Padyukov, Javier Martin, Antonio Gonzalez
Summary: The study identified HLA-B*08 carrying Asp-9 as the MHC locus showing the strongest association with anti-CarP+/anti-CCP- RA, which may help delineate the role of HLA in susceptibility to specific subsets of RA by shaping the spectrum of RA autoantibodies.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xavier Vekemans, Vincent Castric, Helen Hipperson, Niels A. Muller, Helena Westerdahl, Quentin Cronk
Summary: Whole-genome sequencing of non-model organisms is now widely accessible, allowing for the investigation of high biological interest genomic regions, such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), sex-determining regions (SDRs), and the plant self-incompatibility locus (S-locus). Advances in bioinformatics and technology have enabled new approaches to studying these highly polymorphic regions, with techniques such as mapping short-read sequences against multiple alternative references and long-read sequencing facilitating assembly and resequencing. Additional technical improvements, such as nanopore adaptive sequencing and pangenome-based bioinformatic tools, have the potential to further expand knowledge of challenging genomic regions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoyu Li, Hao Sun, Hao Li, Deng Li, Zhiqing Cai, Jie Xu, Ruofan Ma
Summary: This study identified specific subpopulations of macrophages and their features in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis patients using single-cell RNA sequencing, providing a theoretical basis for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
DNA AND CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Xiaoke Yang, Zhixin Wang, Mingming Zhang, Zongwen Shuai
Summary: This study identified 8 plasma exosomal miRNAs that are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), suggesting their potential as noninvasive biomarkers for RA.
JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Liyun Cheng, Yanyan Wang, Ruihe Wu, Tingting Ding, Hongwei Xue, Chong Gao, Xiaofeng Li, Caihong Wang
Summary: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has the potential to make significant breakthroughs in the study of synovial cell differentiation and development, subset identification, functional analysis, and new therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Weijun Jiang, Jiajia Shi, Jingjie Zhao, Qiu Wang, Dan Cong, Fenghua Chen, Yu Zhang, Yuhan Liu, Junzheng Zhao, Qian Chen, Linhao Gu, Wenjia Zhou, Chenhang Wang, Zhaoyuan Fang, Shuhui Geng, Wei Xie, Luo-Nan Chen, Yang Yang, Yun Bai, Haodong Lin, Xiajun Li
Summary: ZFP57 is a master regulator of genomic imprinting, which controls the expression of target imprinted genes by maintaining differential DNA methylation at ICRs. Mutations in Zfp57 lead to allelic expression switches in target imprinted genes and genes associated with the NOTCH signaling pathway.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Mingyue Yan, Zewen Sun, Junjie Wang, Haibo Zhao, Tengbo Yu, Yingze Zhang, Tianrui Wang
Summary: In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on cartilage from patients with knee rheumatoid arthritis, and two new immune-associated chondrocytes were identified. The findings suggest that chondrocytes have contrasting functions in different regions, providing new insights into the role of immune and mechanical loading on cartilage cells in the development of knee rheumatoid osteoarthritis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Dhaneshwar Kumar, Subhransu Sekhar Sahoo, Daniel Chauss, Majid Kazemian, Behdad Afzali
Summary: Immune cell function relies on precise control of transcriptional output from the genome, which is regulated by environmental signals and various elements. Non-coding RNAs, although historically understudied, have been found to play crucial roles in immune cell regulation and immune-mediated diseases. Recent advances in technology and research have enabled the identification and study of ncRNAs, holding promise for future therapeutic targeting and understanding of autoimmunity.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhihua Yang, Qi Liang, Huasheng Liang, Wenying Chen, Chuanning Li, Yunting Xiao, Youbang Liang, Maojie Wang, Xi Tan, Xiaodong Wu, Yanzhao Lin, Xiumin Chen, Qingchun Huang, Zehuai Wen, Runyue Huang
Summary: A Simon 2-Stage Phase 1 Trial was conducted to assess the clinical benefit and potential mechanisms of a Methotrexate-based therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Single-cell RNA sequencing and lipidomic profiling were used to analyze the changes in cellular metabolism and lipid composition. The results showed significant improvement in patients' disease activity and changes in lipid metabolism caused by the therapy.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Nan Hu, Jing Wang, Bomiao Ju, Yuanyuan Li, Ping Fan, Xinxin Jin, Xiaomin Kang, Shufang Wu
Summary: Single-cell omics technologies play a crucial role in the study of bone damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). By displaying cell state and function, these technologies reveal the molecular mechanisms of bone destruction in RA and offer insights into potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers.
CHINESE MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Anqi Gao, Wenpeng Zhao, Ruihe Wu, Rui Su, Ruqing Jin, Jing Luo, Chong Gao, Xiaofeng Li, Caihong Wang
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis is a highly disabling autoimmune disease with a strong tendency to recur. Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) in synovial tissue may play a crucial role in both the recurrence of arthritis and extra-articular organ involvement. Integrating single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics can help identify specific therapeutic targets for TRM.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuli Cheng, Yan Yu, Qinghui Zhuang, Lei Wang, Bin Zhan, Suqin Du, Yiqi Liu, Jingjing Huang, Junfeng Hao, Xinping Zhu
Summary: Helminths and their products can attenuate bone erosion by inhibiting inflammation and osteoclastogenesis through suppressing M1 polarization and related proinflammatory cytokine production, as well as inhibiting the NF-kappa B pathway.
Article
Immunology
Andrea Scheffschick, Sina Fuchs, Vivianne Malmstrom, Iva Gunnarsson, Hanna Brauner
Summary: This exploratory study provides the first characterization of NK cells and NK-like T-cells in lupus nephritis (LN) kidney, as well as their localization during active and inactive diseases. However, the role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of LN is still unclear and requires further studies.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Alexandra Jurczak, Lauriane Delay, Julie Barbier, Nils Simon, Emerson Krock, Katalin Sandor, Nilesh M. Agalave, Resti Rudjito, Gustaf Wigerblad, Katarzyna Rogoz, Arnaud Briat, Elisabeth Miot-Noirault, Arisai Martinez-Martinez, Dieter Bromme, Caroline Gronwall, Vivianne Malmstrom, Lars Klareskog, Spiro Khoury, Thierry Ferreira, Bonnie Labrum, Emmanuel Deval, Juan Miguel Jimenez-Andrade, Fabien Marchand, Camilla Svensson
Summary: Bone conditions such as bone cancer, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis are associated with a risk of persistent pain. Increased activity of osteoclasts is often observed in these conditions, leading to bone remodeling and the production of factors that sensitize pain receptors in the bone. This study investigates the connection between inflammation, pain, and bone erosion using monoclonal antibodies from RA patients. The results suggest that there may be a link between bone erosion and pain in states of subclinical inflammation.
Article
Rheumatology
Aisha M. Mergaert, Zihao Zheng, Michael F. Denny, Maya F. Amjadi, S. Janna Bashar, Michael A. Newton, Vivianne Malmstrom, Caroline Gronwall, Sara S. McCoy, Miriam A. Shelef
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Uta Hardt, Konstantin Carlberg, Erik af Klint, Peter Sahlstrom, Ludvig Larsson, Annika van Vollenhoven, Susana Hernandez Machado, Lena Israelsson, Khaled Amara, Karine Chemin, Marina Korotkova, Gunilla B. Karlsson Hedestam, Anca Catrina, Sarah A. Teichmann, Patrik L. Stahl, Vivianne Malmstrom
Summary: This study investigated the presence of differentiated B cells in the joint tissue of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) at the onset of the disease. The findings showed that different types of B cells, including memory and plasma cells, were present regardless of the patients' autoantibody status. The study also revealed the mechanisms of local B cell maturation and plasma cell survival in the tissue. Furthermore, the research demonstrated the presence of local autoreactive plasma cell differentiation in joint biopsies captured from untreated early RA.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Akilan Krishnamurthy, Alexandra Circiumaru, Jitong Sun, Yogan Kisten, Peter Damberg, Koji Sakuraba, Katalin Sandor, Patrik Jarvoll, Tunhe Zhou, Vivianne Malmstrom, Camilla Svensson, Aase Hensvold, Anca Catrina, Lars Klareskog, Bence Rethi
Summary: This study found that anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) can induce tenosynovitis, pain, and bone loss in mice, with mechanisms dependent on peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4). Monoclonal ACPAs generated from plasma cells of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were transferred to wild-type and PAD4-deficient mice, showing long-lasting pain-like behavior and trabecular bone loss, as well as tenosynovitis detected by MRI. The effects of ACPAs on pain-like behavior, tenosynovitis, and bone loss were significantly reduced in PAD4-deficient mice.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Bruno Raposo, Marcelo Afonso, Lena Israelsson, Heidi Waehaemaa, Ragnhild Stalesen, Fredrik Wermeling, Aase Haj Hensvold, Caroline Groenwall, Bence Rethi, Lars Klareskog, Vivianne Malmstrom
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miranda Houtman, Anna Dzebisashvili, Anatoly Dubnovitsky, Genadiy Kozhukh, Lars Ronnblom, Lars Klareskog, Vivianne Malmstrom, Leonid Padyukov
Summary: Allelic variants of HLA-DRB1 are associated with autoimmune and infectious diseases. mRNA expression levels of HLA-DRB1 are dependent on different alleles. This study used five commercially-available HLA-DRB antibodies to measure HLA-DR beta chain levels in individuals with specific alleles. The results show that current immunological research using these antibodies may be biased towards detecting specific protein variants, leading to significant discrepancies in quantifying protein expression in a heterogeneous population.
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Sara Turcinov, Erik af Klint, Bertrand Van Schoubroeck, Arlette Kouwenhoven, Sohel Mia, Karine Chemin, Hans Wils, Carl Van Hove, An De Bondt, Ken Keustermans, Jeroen Van Houdt, Joke Reumers, Nathan Felix, Navin L. Rao, Pieter Peeters, Frederik Stevenaert, Lars Klareskog, Murray McKinnon, Daniel Baker, Anish Suri, Vivianne Malmstroem
Summary: This study examined the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, T cell phenotypes, and T cell specificities in the synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The results showed that CD4+ T cells dominated the T cell population and there were peripheral helper T-like cells in both patient groups. The biased gene usage of TRBV20-1 in ACPA+ patients suggested recognition of common antigens, and the reexpression of TCRs revealed that clonally expanded, viral-reactive T cells contributed to the diverse CD4+ T cell repertoire.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Uta Hardt, Martin M. Corcoran, Sanjana Narang, Vivianne Malmstrom, Leonid Padyukov, Gunilla B. Karlsson Hedestam
Summary: The variations in Immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) germline genes have an influence on the B cell receptor repertoire, which can affect our response to infections and disease susceptibilities. However, limited information on IGH allele frequencies at the population level makes association studies challenging. In this study, we genotyped a pilot group of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and identified new IGH alleles, highlighting the need for baseline information in targeted study groups for future disease association analyses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Aase Hensvold, Begum Horuluoglu, Peter Sahlstrom, Radha Thyagarajan, Juan Sebastian Diaz Boada, Monika Hansson, Linda Mathsson-Alm, Christina Gerstner, Natalie Sippl, Lena Israelsson, Rikard Wedin, Johanna Steen, Lars Klareskog, Bence Rethi, Anca I. Catrina, Lina -Marcela Diaz-Gallo, Vivianne Malmstrom, Caroline Gronwall
Summary: This study investigated the differences in immunoglobulin heavy and light chains between bone marrow plasma cells and peripheral blood B cells in rheumatoid arthritis patients. It found differences in IgG/A repertoires and N-linked glycosylation between patients and identified some plasma cells with identical heavy chains but different light chains, possibly indicating receptor revision or clonal convergence. ACPA-producing bone marrow plasma cells were also identified in ACPA-positive patients.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Ravi Kumar Sharma, Niyaz Yoosuf, Marcelo Afonso, Andrea Scheffschick, Aune Avik, Alice Bartoletti, Begum Horuluoglu, Juan Sebastian Diaz Boada, Sanjay Kumar Boddul, Asta Dogg Jonasdottir, Bjorn Lovstrom, Hanna Brauner, Bruno Raposo, Karine Chemin, Annette Bruchfeld, Iva Gunnarsson, Vivianne Malmstrom
Summary: This study investigated PR3-specific CD4+T cell responses in patients with PR3-AAV and found that GPR56 expression was increased in autoreactive PR3-specific CD4+T cells, indicating their cytotoxic capacity. GPR56+CD4+T cells were more prominent in the blood of patients with active disease and fewer in patients with inactive disease, possibly due to immunosuppression or migration to affected organs. In addition, there was overlap of PR3-reactive T cell clones among different patients, demonstrating convergence of the autoreactive T cell repertoire. These findings provide a basis for immune monitoring and future therapeutic intervention in PR3-AAV.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Rheumatology
Karine Chemin, Vivianne Malmstrom
NATURE REVIEWS RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yibo He, Changrong Ge, Alex Moreno-Giro, Bingze Xu, Christian M. Beusch, Katalin Sandor, Jie Su, Lei Cheng, Erik Lonnblom, Christina Lundqvist, Linda M. Slot, Dongmei Tong, Vilma Urbonaviciute, Bibo Liang, Taotao Li, Gonzalo Fernandez Lahore, Mike Aoun, Vivianne Malmstrom, Theo Rispens, Patrik Ernfors, Camilla I. Svensson, Hans Ulrich Scherer, Rene E. M. Toes, Inger Gjertsson, Olov Ekwall, Roman A. Zubarev, Rikard Holmdahl
Summary: Although anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), their in vivo functions remain unclear. In this study, monoclonal ACPAs derived from RA patients were expressed in mice and their functions were analyzed. One of the antibodies, clone E4, showed a protective effect against antibody-induced arthritis in mice, suggesting therapeutic potential for ACPAs in RA.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexandra Circiumaru, Marcelo Gomes Afonso, Heidi Wahamaa, Akilan Krishnamurthy, Monika Hansson, Linda Mathsson-Alm, Marton Keszei, Ragnhild Stalesen, Lars Ottosson, Charlotte de Vries, Miriam A. Shelef, Vivianne Malmstrom, Lars Klareskog, Anca I. Catrina, Caroline Gronwall, Aase Hensvold, Bence Rethi
Summary: ACPA clones have a broad reactivity to neutrophils, targeting NET-like structures and showing a high dependency on PAD4. There is substantial clonal diversity in neutrophil binding, as well as a high patient-to-patient variability in osteoclast stimulation.
Correction
Immunology
Vivianne Malmstrom, Anca I. Catrina, Lars Klareskog
NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)