Open AccessRestoring synovial homeostasis in rheumatoid arthritis by targeting fibroblast-like synoviocytes
Author(s) -
Gyrid Nygaard,
Gary S. Firestein
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nature reviews. rheumatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.683
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1759-4804
pISSN - 1759-4790
DOI - 10.1038/s41584-020-0413-5
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , phenotype , synovitis , arthritis , epigenetics , immune system , synovial joint , extracellular matrix , osteoarthritis , immunology , disease , synovial membrane , bioinformatics , pathology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , articular cartilage , gene , genetics , alternative medicine
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune-mediated disease that primarily affects the synovium of diarthrodial joints. During the course of RA, the synovium transforms into a hyperplastic invasive tissue that causes destruction of cartilage and bone. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), which form the lining of the joint, are epigenetically imprinted with an aggressive phenotype in RA and have an important role in these pathological processes. In addition to producing the extracellular matrix and joint lubricants, FLS in RA produce pathogenic mediators such as cytokines and proteases that contribute to disease pathogenesis and perpetuation. The development of multi-omics integrative analyses have enabled new ways to dissect the mechanisms that imprint FLS, have helped to identify potential FLS subsets with distinct functions and have identified differences in FLS phenotypes between joints in individual patients. This Review provides an overview of advances in understanding of FLS biology and highlights omics approaches and studies that hold promise for identifying future therapeutic targets.