Lower peripheral helper T cell levels in the synovium are associated with a better response to anti-TNF therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The mechanisms by which only some rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients respond favorably to TNF blockade are still poorly characterized. The goal of this study was to identify biological features that explain this differential response using a multilevel transcriptome analysis of the synovial membrane.

Methods

Synovial samples from 11 patients on anti-TNF therapy were obtained by arthroscopy at baseline and week 20. Analysis of the synovial transcriptome was performed at the gene, pathway, and cell-type levels. Newly characterized pathogenic cell types in RA, peripheral helper T cells (T_PH), and CD34-THY1+ fibroblasts were estimated using a cell-type deconvolution approach. T_PH association was validated using immunofluorescence. External valida

SUBMITTER: Julia A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7446220 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature