Synovial fibroblast activation occurs before the onset of rheumatoid arthritis and influences the risk of developing disease.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Activated synovial fibroblasts play a key role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT) using ^68gallium-labelled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) allows the detection of FAP-expressing activated fibroblasts in humans in vivo. Herein, this study aimed to investigate whether fibroblast activation already occurs in the pre-clinical phase of RA and whether it is associated with the development of clinical disease.

Methods

⁶⁸Ga-FAPI-46 PET-CT was performed in individuals positive for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) with clinically suspect arthralgia without present or past signs of joint swelling or present or past anti-rheumatic therapy. All participants underwent structured clinical and l

SUBMITTER: Atzinger A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12666219 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature