New data suggest myeloid cells in SLE patients skew B and T cell activation status toward the M1 proinflammatory phenotype, thereby directing SLE flares and remission…
Genetic Discoveries Pave New Pathways to the Origins of Rheumatic Diseases
New research has provided a never-before-seen view of the genetic activity that may be used to map the polygenic nature of common rheumatic diseases. Two recent studies have employed distinct approaches to identify the non-coding gene variants, digging deep into human genetic data to uncover the mechanism of rheumatic diseases…
Gene Expression Signature Useful for Diagnosing Kawasaki Disease
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—A 13-transcript whole-blood gene expression signature accurately differentiates Kawasaki disease (KD) from other febrile conditions in children, researchers report. “We believe it is feasible to turn the signature into a diagnostic test,” Dr. Michael Levin from Imperial College London, London, tells Reuters Health by email. “There are a range of methods to…
Circulating MicroRNA Provides Clues to Class IV Lupus Nephritis
A recent study has shed light on the role of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in SLE pathogenesis. In particular, patients with lupus nephritis have an abundance of 24 miRNAs, many of which play a role in regulatory feedback loops…
Genetic Analysis Provides Insights into How Human Growth Is Linked to OA
Research has shed light on the genetic mutations that link GDF5 with arthritis and height. An ancient regulatory variant in GROW1 has been repeatedly selected in humans in northern environments, explaining the high frequency of a GDF5 haplotype that increases arthritis susceptibility…
Gene Expression Identifies Two Crohn’s Disease Subtypes
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Gene expression and chromatin accessibility can be used to identify two Crohn’s disease (CD) molecular subclasses that match distinct disease phenotypes, researchers report. “The hope one day is to be able to test Crohn’s patients for the subtype of the disease they have, and thus determine which treatment should work best,” Dr….
The Impact of U.S. Supreme Court Decisions on Medical Affairs, Healthcare Policy
As America’s capital, Washington, D.C., maintains an outsized influence in our daily lives. Despite having a meager sliver of the New York City population, the daily political transactions that transpire in the District of Columbia impact our lives. The comings and goings in the corridors of Congress are likely to have a greater impact on us…
Search for Infectious Triggers of Rheumatic Disease Could Yield Options to Block Process
SAN FRANCISCO—Two hundred years ago, physicians knew nothing about what caused various forms of arthritis. Today, we have more clues about what may trigger rheumatic diseases, but still can’t pinpoint the culprits that set scores of inflammatory conditions in motion. Researchers discussed some of the background and recent findings that point to what immunologists call…
Gene Manipulation Has Potential to Alter Genomes, Impact Society
Every so often, a major scientific breakthrough profoundly alters the trajectory of scientific research. In the 1960s, microbiologists sparked the recombinant-DNA revolution with the discovery that bacteria have innate immune systems based on restriction enzymes. These enzymes bind and cut invading viral genomes at specific short sequences, and scientists rapidly repurposed them to cut and…
Gene Expression Markers in T Cells Help Identify SLE Patient Subtypes
Researchers used T cell transcriptome analysis in a small-scale study, identifying gene expression of specific patient subtypes and finding that expression alteration of T cells may correlate with severity of SLE rather than its presentation…