Axl and MerTK regulate synovial inflammation and are modulated by IL-6 inhibition in rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT: The TAM tyrosine kinases, Axl and MerTK, play an important role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, using a unique synovial tissue bioresource of patients with RA matched for disease stage and treatment exposure, we assessed how Axl and MerTK relate to synovial histopathology and disease activity, and their topographical expression and longitudinal modulation by targeted treatments. We show that in treatment-naive patients, high AXL levels are associated with pauci-immune histology and low disease activity and inversely correlate with the expression levels of pro-inflammatory genes. We define the location of Axl/MerTK in rheumatoid synovium using immunohistochemistry/fluorescence and digital spatial profiling and show that Axl is preferentially expressed in the lining layer. Moreover, its

SUBMITTER: Nerviani A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10944458 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature