Review
Immunology
Marie-Astrid Boutet, Gabriel Courties, Alessandra Nerviani, Benoit Le Goff, Florence Apparailly, Costantino Pitzalis, Frederic Blanchard
Summary: Macrophages play a critical role in the pathogenesis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, advancements in high-throughput technologies have expanded the understanding of synovial cell diversity and potential therapeutic targets.
AUTOIMMUNITY REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hisakata Yamada
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting systemic synovial tissues, leading to the destruction of multiple joints. The etiology is unknown, but T-cell-mediated autoimmunity has been thought to play critical roles, which is supported by experimental as well as clinical observations. Efforts have been made to elucidate the functions and antigen specificity of pathogenic autoreactive T cells, but the hypothesis that Th1 and Th17 cells are pathogenic T cells in RA joints is not fully supported.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Sicheng Zhang, Zhen Duan, Fang Liu, Qingjie Wu, Xiwei Sun, Hailong Ma
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects joint health. Exosomes, which are secreted vesicles, contain various substances and play a role in cellular communication. Recent studies have shown that exosomes derived from different cells can influence the biological functions of immune cells and joint cells, but the exact mechanisms are still unclear. This comprehensive review provides a scientific foundation for utilizing exosomes as diagnostic targets and therapeutic approaches in the context of RA.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
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)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Michaela Debreova, Martina Culenova, Veronika Smolinska, Andreas Nicodemou, Maria Csobonyeiova, Lubos Danisovic
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a complex pathogenesis involving immune response, dysregulated cytokine production, disrupted oxygen metabolism, impaired redox signaling, acidosis, and aberrant intercellular communication. While current treatment modalities have made RA manageable, a substantial number of patients do not respond well to traditional therapies. Cell-based strategies, particularly the use of MSCs, have shown promise in providing potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects for RA patients, with demonstrated safety in clinical studies.
Article
Cell Biology
Irene Rosa, Maria Simonetta Faussone-Pellegrini, Eloisa Romano, Lidia Ibba-Manneschi, Marco Matucci-Cerinic, Mirko Manetti
Summary: Recent studies have found that Telocytes (TCs)/CD34(+) stromal cells are detectable in various organs throughout the human body, and their impairment in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may have important pathophysiological implications. The distribution of TCs/CD34(+) stromal cells is significantly altered in chronic synovitis, particularly in RA synovial tissue, suggesting potential roles of TCs in regulating tissue homeostasis and structure.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Chen Qian, Jie Chen, Xiaopeng Xu, Qingyang Liu, Minhong Gu, Sheng Lu, Hongxia Bai, Qiubo Wang, Mingyu Xue
Summary: Synovium and serum DUSP22 levels were significantly decreased in RA patients, correlated with joint pain, inflammation markers, and disease activity scores. Serum DUSP22 levels were lowest in RA patients, increased after treatment, and positively correlated with synovium DUSP22 levels in RA patients.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Dmitry Rychkov, Jessica Neely, Tomiko Oskotsky, Steven Yu, Noah Perlmutter, Joanne Nititham, Alexander Carvidi, Melissa Krueger, Andrew Gross, Lindsey A. Criswell, Judith F. Ashouri, Marina Sirota
Summary: This study identified 13 biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and monitoring disease activity, utilizing gene expression data from large samples. These biomarkers can track disease activity, distinguish between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and monitor treatment effects.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peter Javor, Attila Macsai, Edina Butt, Balint Barath, David Kurszan Jasz, Tamara Horvath, Bence Barath, Akos Csonka, Laszlo Torok, Endre Varga, Petra Hartmann
Summary: This study found that mitochondrial dysfunction is present in both osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but to different extents. Rheumatoid arthritis patients exhibited decreased complex I-linked respiration and mitochondrial uncoupling, while both arthritis groups showed reduced OxPhos activity compared to the control group. It is recommended to focus on respiratory complex I in rheumatoid arthritis research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lihang Wang, Yun Wang, Tingsheng Lu, Chunshan Luo, Bing Qiu, Shishu Huang, Yunfeng Lin
Summary: In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, tetrahedral framework nucleic acid loaded miR-23b (T-23b) inhibits systemic and synovial inflammation by suppressing the production of multiple inflammatory cytokines. It also prohibits osteoclastic activity and cartilage matrix degradation to help protect joint structure by regulating the expression of related genes at the transcriptional level.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel J. Lightwood, Rebecca J. Munro, John Porter, David McMillan, Bruce Carrington, Alison Turner, Anthony Scott-Tucker, Elizabeth S. Hickford, Antje Schmidt, David Fox, Alison Maloney, Tom Ceska, Tim Bourne, James O'Connell, Alastair D. G. Lawson
Summary: TNF can be inhibited by small molecules that stabilize the TNF trimer in an asymmetric conformation. The authors also developed a monoclonal antibody that selectively binds this inactive form of TNF, enabling both target engagement assessment and structural characterization of TNF binding to TNF receptor 1.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu-ting Liu, Hui-hua Ding, Ze-min Lin, Que Wang, Li Chen, Shuang-shuang Liu, Xiao-qian Yang, Feng-hua Zhu, Yue-teng Huang, Shi-qi Cao, Fang-ming Yang, Zi-lan Song, Jian Ding, Mei-yu Geng, Hua Xie, Ao Zhang, Shi-jun He, Jian-ping Zuo
Summary: The study showed that SOMCL-17-016 exhibited significant therapeutic effects in the mouse collagen-induced arthritis model, with a dual inhibition of B cell function and osteoclastogenesis, suggesting its potential as a promising drug candidate for RA treatment.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shuang Li, Jin Su, Wei Cai, Jian-xin Liu
Summary: Targeting macrophages using nanomaterials is an important therapeutic strategy for rheumatoid arthritis due to the crucial role macrophages play in the pathological process of RA. Manipulating macrophages through intravenous injection, oral administration, percutaneous absorption, etc., has shown significant therapeutic effects, providing new insights and directions for the treatment of RA.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yaming Guo, Tao Wei, Nan Hu, Xiaoying Zhou
Summary: This study aims to explore the correlations between HA concentration and mast cell proteases, or matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 (MMP-2/9), and to investigate the association of MC-specific proteases with disrupted synovial HA homeostasis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or collagen-induced arthritis rats. The study found that mast cell proteases may influence the HA degradation pathway by promoting the speed of HA degradation. In patients with RA and CIA rats, HA concentrations in synovial fluids were decreased, while the activities of mast cell proteases were increased and positively correlated with MMP-9, but negatively correlated with HA concentrations.
IMMUNOLOGIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Elinor Wing, Catherine Sutherland, Katherine Miles, David Gray, Carl S. Goodyear, Thomas D. Otto, Stefan Breusch, Graeme Cowan, Mohini Gray
Summary: This study reveals the relationship between different subsets of B cells in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis and pathogenic antibody secreting cells (ASCs), and identifies DN2 B cells as major precursors to synovial ASCs. This knowledge is crucial for developing more targeted therapies for B-cell depletion in rheumatoid arthritis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos Rafael-Vidal, Irene Altabas, Nair Perez, Coral Mourino Rodriguez, Jose M. Pego-Reigosa, Samuel Garcia
Summary: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect almost all organ systems, with lupus nephritis (LN) being a severe complication affecting approximately half of SLE patients. LN is characterized by the accumulation of immune complexes leading to renal failure. Aberrant T cell activation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of both SLE and LN.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anju Dwivedi, Chiranjeevi Padala, Anita Kumari, Saratchandra Singh Khumukcham, Vasudevarao Penugurti, Sinjini Ghosh, Aprotim Mazumder, Vincent Goffin, Bramanandam Manavathi
Summary: This study identified HPIP as a critical regulator of PRL signaling in lactogenic differentiation of mammary epithelial cells, involving multiple pathways such as PI3K/AKT and miR-148a, which control the differentiation process.
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Manon Baures, Charles Dariane, Elisavet Tika, Emilia Puig Lombardi, Nicolas Barry Delongchamps, Cedric Blanpain, Jacques-Emmanuel Guidotti, Vincent Goffin
Summary: This review paper summarizes various approaches used to characterize luminal progenitor cells in the prostate and discusses their functional properties and potential role in prostate pathology. The authors also describe different methods and identifiers used to classify these cells.
NATURE REVIEWS UROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Andrea Ottria, Maili Zimmermann, Laurent M. Paardekooper, Tiago Carvalheiro, Nadia Vazirpanah, Sandra Silva-Cardoso, Alsya J. Affandi, Eleni Chouri, Maarten V. D. Kroef, Ralph G. Tieland, Cornelis P. J. Bekker, Catharina G. K. Wichers, Marzia Rossato, Enric Mocholi-Gimeno, Janneke Tekstra, Evelien Ton, Jaap M. van Laar, Marta Cossu, Lorenzo Beretta, Samuel Garcia Perez, Aridaman Pandit, Femke Bonte-Mineur, Kris A. Reedquist, Geert van den Bogaart, Timothy R. D. J. Radstake, Wioleta Marut
Summary: This study reveals that the production of CXCL4 in SSc is dependent on the overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and the stabilization of HIF-2α, which is induced by the simultaneous exposure to hypoxia and TLR agonist. Blocking mtROS or HIF-2α pathways may attenuate the contribution of CXCL4 to SSc and other inflammatory diseases driven by CXCL4.
Article
Cell Biology
Alsya J. Affandi, Tiago Carvalheiro, Andrea Ottria, Judith J. de Haan, Maike A. D. Brans, Maarten M. Brandt, Ralph G. Tieland, Ana P. Lopes, Beatriz Malvar Fernandez, Cornelis P. J. Bekker, Maarten van der Linden, Maili Zimmermann, Barbara Giovannone, Catharina G. K. Wichers, Samuel Garcia, Michael de Kok, Giuseppina Stifano, Yan Juan Xu, M. Anna Kowalska, Maaike Waasdorp, Caroline Cheng, Susan Gibbs, Saskia C. A. de Jager, Joel A. G. van Roon, Timothy R. D. J. Radstake, Wioleta Marut
Summary: Fibrosis is a deadly disease that affects the skin, lungs, and heart. The study reveals the pivotal role of CXCL4 in fibrosis development, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.
Article
Rheumatology
Ana Igea, Tiago Carvalheiro, Beatriz Malvar-Fernandez, Sara Martinez-Ramos, Carlos Rafael-Vidal, Ellis Niemantsverdriet, Jezabel Varade, Andrea Fernandez-Carrera, Norman Jimenez, Trudy McGarry, Angela Rodriguez-Trillo, Douglas Veale, Ursula Fearon, Carmen Conde, Jose M. Pego-Reigosa, Africa Gonzalez-Fernandez, Kris A. Reedquist, Timothy R. D. J. Radstake, Annette van der Helm-Van Mil, Samuel Garcia
Summary: The study reveals that Sema3B plays a protective role in a mouse model of arthritis and its expression levels in RA patients are associated with the disease stage.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Sara Martinez-Ramos, Carlos Rafael-Vidal, Jose M. Pego-Reigosa, Samuel Garcia
Summary: Spondyloarthritis is a family of chronic inflammatory diseases, with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis being the most prevalent. Monocytes and macrophages play key roles in the pathogenesis of these diseases.
Article
Immunology
Jennifer Mecklenburg, Andi Wangzhou, Anahit H. Hovhannisyan, Priscilla Barba-Escobedo, Sergey A. Shein, Yi Zou, Korri Weldon, Zhao Lai, Vincent Goffin, Gregory Dussor, Alexei Tumanov, Theodore J. Price, Armen N. Akopian
Summary: This study developed pain models with sex-dependent resolution trajectories and identified factors associated with the resolution of pain in males and females. The results showed that different treatment protocols with prolactin (PRL) can lead to distinct pain development and resolution patterns, with acute PRL-evoked pain fully resolved within one day and prolonged high dose PRL treatment causing mechanical hypersensitivity that resolves within 5-7 days. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory responses in the hindpaws, particularly with macrophages/monocytes, were observed during pain resolution in both sexes.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Charles Dariane, Sylvie Clairefond, Benjamin Peant, Laudine Communal, Zhe Thian, Veronique Ouellet, Dominique Trudel, Nazim Benzerdjeb, Feryel Azzi, Arnaud Mejean, Marc-Olivier Timsit, Manon Baures, Jacques-Emmanuel Guidotti, Vincent Goffin, Pierre I. Karakiewicz, Anne-Marie Mes-Masson, Fred Saad
Summary: Keratin-7 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in several cancers, and its high expression in benign glands surrounding localized prostate tumors is correlated with shorter bone metastasis-free survival and increased risk of cancer-specific mortality. In prostate cancer patients, high Keratin-7 expression is significantly associated with hypertrophic basal cell phenotype.
Article
Immunology
Angela Rodriguez-Trillo, Carmen Pena, Samuel Garcia, Eva Perez-Pampin, Marina Rodriguez-Lopez, Antonio Mera-Varela, Antonio Gonzalez, Carmen Conde
Summary: This article investigates the role of ROCK in rheumatoid arthritis and finds that ROCK inhibition can significantly improve arthritis inflammation and bone erosion.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Manon Baures, Emilia Puig Lombardi, Delphine Di Martino, Wail Zeitouni, Emeline Pacreau, Leila Dos Santos, Charles Dariane, Florence Boutillon, Jacques-Emmanuel Guidotti, Vincent Goffin
Summary: The study identified LSCmed cells as matching human prostate Club/Hillock cells, regulated by EGFR/ERBB4, IGF-1 and MET pathways, and exhibiting drug resistance. These cells are considered a relevant preclinical model for investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving CRPC.
Article
Oncology
Maite Verreault, Irma Segoviano Vilchis, Shai Rosenberg, Nolwenn Lemaire, Charlotte Schmitt, Jeremy Guehennec, Louis Royer-Perron, Jean-Leon Thomas, TuKiet T. Lam, Florent Dingli, Damarys Loew, Francois Ducray, Sophie Paris, Catherine Carpentier, Yannick Marie, Florence Laigle-Donadey, Audrey Rousseau, Natascha Pigat, Florence Boutillon, Franck Bielle, Karima Mokhtari, Stuart J. Frank, Aurelien de Reynies, Khe Hoang-Xuan, Marc Sanson, Vincent Goffin, Ahmed Idbaih
Summary: This study identifies a distinct molecular subset of GBMs that is characterized by GHR signaling instead of EGFR overexpression. GHR signaling promotes tumorigenesis and regulates cell proliferation and migration, providing a new direction for improving the prognosis of GBM patients.
CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhibo Yu, Nicolas Tsapis, Francois Fay, Liang Chen, Andrii Karpus, Xiangyang Shi, Catherine Cailleau, Samuel Garcia Perez, Nicolas Huang, Juliette Vergnaud, Serge Mignani, Jean-Pierre Majoral, Elias Fattal
Summary: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) shows potential in treating rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting major cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Researchers have developed original cationic amphiphilic phosphorus dendrons that can form dendriplexes with TNF-alpha siRNA. These dendriplexes protect siRNA from degradation and enhance macrophage uptake, leading to significant inhibition of TNF-alpha expression and anti-inflammatory effects in in vitro and in vivo models. This opens up important perspectives for using these original amphiphilic dendrons in chronic inflammatory diseases.
Article
Rheumatology
Sara Martinez-Ramos, Carlos Rafael-Vidal, Beatriz Malvar-Fernandez, Angela Rodriguez-Trillo, Douglas Veale, Ursula Fearon, Carmen Conde, J. Conde-Aranda, Timothy R. D. J. Radstake, Jose Maria Pego-Reigosa, Kris A. Reedquist, Samuel Garcia
Summary: The expression of class 3 semaphorins is reduced in RA synovial tissue, and TCF-3, EBF-1, and HOXA5 are identified as transcription factors involved in their expression. Silencing TCF-3, EBF-1, and HOXA5 significantly reduces the expression of class 3 semaphorins in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. HOXA5 expression is decreased in RA synovium and is negatively correlated with clinical disease parameters, and TNF-alpha down-regulates HOXA5 expression. Silencing HOXA5 enhances the migratory and invasive capacities of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and the viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
Article
Rheumatology
Luc Pijnenburg, Margherita Giannini, Maude Bouchard-Marmen, Laurent Arnaud, Simone Barsotti, Silvia Bellando-Randone, Livio Bernardi, Paola Bini, Jelena Blagojevic, Veronica Codullo, Marion Couderc, Claire De Moreuil, Emanuelle Dernis, Luca Diamanti, Jean Jacques Dubost, Fanny Duval, Giacomo Emmi, Jean-Marc Galempoix, Bernard Geny, Jacques-Eric Gottenberg, Monica Groza, Aurelien Guffroy, Isabelle Guichard, Philippe Guilpain, Baptiste Hervier, Marie Hudson, Luca Iaccarino, Florenzo Iannone, Delphine Lebrun, Enrico Marchioni, Kuberaka Mariampillai, Francois Maurier, Marta Mosca, Aleksandra Nadaj-Pakleza, Carlotta Nannini, Jean-Maxime Piot, Sergio Prieto-Gonzalez, Nicolas Poursac, Eglantine Rouanet, Jeremie Sellam, Albert Selva-O'Callaghan, Francois Severac, Jean Sibilia, Guilhem Sole, Antoine Soulages, Benjamin Terrier, Anne Tournadre, Yves Troyanov, Nathalie Vernier, Veronique Vesperini, Jean-Francois Viallard, Rahima Ziane, Lorenzo Cavagna, Alain Meyer
Summary: Dropped head or bent spine syndrome (DH/BS) in patients with inflammatory myopathies (IM) is a marker of severity and is associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
