New Insights into the Role of Synovial Fibroblasts Leading to Joint Destruction in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2023 Mar 29

PMID 36982247

Authors

Kotaro Matsuda

Naoto Shiba

Koji Hiraoka

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), one of the most common autoimmune diseases, is characterized by multiple-joint synovitis with subsequent destruction of bone and cartilage. The excessive autoimmune responses cause an imbalance in bone metabolism, promoting bone resorption and inhibiting bone formation. Preliminary studies have revealed that receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-mediated osteoclast induction is an important component of bone destruction in RA. Synovial fibroblasts are the crucial producers of RANKL in the RA synovium; novel analytical techniques, primarily, single-cell RNA sequencing, have confirmed that synovial fibroblasts include heterogeneous subsets of both pro-inflammatory and tissue-destructive cell types. The heterogeneity of immune cells in the RA synovium and the interaction of synovial fibroblasts with immune cells have recently received considerable attention. The current review focused on the latest findings regarding the crosstalk between synovial fibroblasts and immune cells, and the pivotal role played by synovial fibroblasts in joint destruction in RA.

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