Targeting pathogenic fibroblast-like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) play a central role in RA pathogenesis and are the main cellular component in the inflamed synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). FLSs are emerging as promising new therapeutic targets in RA. However, fibroblasts perform many essential funct...

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Main Authors: Hongyan Qian, Chaoqiong Deng, Shiju Chen, Xinwei Zhang, Yan He, Jingying Lan, Aodi Wang, Guixiu Shi, Yuan Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-05-01
Series:Arthritis Research & Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-024-03343-4
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author Hongyan Qian
Chaoqiong Deng
Shiju Chen
Xinwei Zhang
Yan He
Jingying Lan
Aodi Wang
Guixiu Shi
Yuan Liu
author_facet Hongyan Qian
Chaoqiong Deng
Shiju Chen
Xinwei Zhang
Yan He
Jingying Lan
Aodi Wang
Guixiu Shi
Yuan Liu
author_sort Hongyan Qian
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) play a central role in RA pathogenesis and are the main cellular component in the inflamed synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). FLSs are emerging as promising new therapeutic targets in RA. However, fibroblasts perform many essential functions that are required for sustaining tissue homeostasis. Direct targeting of general fibroblast markers on FLSs is challenging because fibroblasts in other tissues might be altered and side effects such as reduced wound healing or fibrosis can occur. To date, no FLS-specific targeted therapies have been applied in the clinical management of RA. With the help of high-throughput technologies such as scRNA-seq in recent years, several specific pathogenic FLS subsets in RA have been identified. Understanding the characteristics of these pathogenic FLS clusters and the mechanisms that drive their differentiation can provide new insights into the development of novel FLS-targeting strategies for RA. Here, we discuss the pathogenic FLS subsets in RA that have been elucidated in recent years and potential strategies for targeting pathogenic FLSs.
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series Arthritis Research & Therapy
spelling doaj-art-2d84afc23e65472eb712edf206e496aa2025-08-20T01:56:46ZengBMCArthritis Research & Therapy1478-63622024-05-0126111510.1186/s13075-024-03343-4Targeting pathogenic fibroblast-like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritisHongyan Qian0Chaoqiong Deng1Shiju Chen2Xinwei Zhang3Yan He4Jingying Lan5Aodi Wang6Guixiu Shi7Yuan Liu8Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen UniversityAbstract Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) play a central role in RA pathogenesis and are the main cellular component in the inflamed synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). FLSs are emerging as promising new therapeutic targets in RA. However, fibroblasts perform many essential functions that are required for sustaining tissue homeostasis. Direct targeting of general fibroblast markers on FLSs is challenging because fibroblasts in other tissues might be altered and side effects such as reduced wound healing or fibrosis can occur. To date, no FLS-specific targeted therapies have been applied in the clinical management of RA. With the help of high-throughput technologies such as scRNA-seq in recent years, several specific pathogenic FLS subsets in RA have been identified. Understanding the characteristics of these pathogenic FLS clusters and the mechanisms that drive their differentiation can provide new insights into the development of novel FLS-targeting strategies for RA. Here, we discuss the pathogenic FLS subsets in RA that have been elucidated in recent years and potential strategies for targeting pathogenic FLSs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-024-03343-4Fibroblast-like synoviocytesRheumatoid arthritisInflammationImmune homeostasisTherapeutic target
spellingShingle Hongyan Qian
Chaoqiong Deng
Shiju Chen
Xinwei Zhang
Yan He
Jingying Lan
Aodi Wang
Guixiu Shi
Yuan Liu
Targeting pathogenic fibroblast-like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis
Arthritis Research & Therapy
Fibroblast-like synoviocytes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammation
Immune homeostasis
Therapeutic target
title Targeting pathogenic fibroblast-like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis
title_full Targeting pathogenic fibroblast-like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis
title_fullStr Targeting pathogenic fibroblast-like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis
title_full_unstemmed Targeting pathogenic fibroblast-like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis
title_short Targeting pathogenic fibroblast-like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis
title_sort targeting pathogenic fibroblast like synoviocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis
topic Fibroblast-like synoviocytes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammation
Immune homeostasis
Therapeutic target
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-024-03343-4
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