Long Non-Coding RNA GAPLINC Promotes Tumor-Like Biologic Behaviors of Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes as MicroRNA Sponging in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Rapidly accumulating evidence has now suggested that the long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs), a large and diverse class of non-coding transcribed RNA molecules with diverse functional roles and mechanisms, play a major role in the pathogenesis of many human inflammatory diseases. Although some LncRNAs are overexpressed in plasma, T cell, and synovial tissues of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there is a dearth of knowledge in what role these transcripts play in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) of these patients. Here, our studies showed that GAPLINC, a newly identified functional LncRNA in oncology, displayed a greater degree of expression in FLSs from RA than in patients with traumatic injury.

uPAR promotes tumor-like biologic behaviors of fibroblast-like synoviocytes through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), is a multifunctional receptor on cell surface, widely present in endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and a variety of malignant cells. Current studies have suggested that uPAR overexpressed on synovial tissues or in synovial fluid or plasma in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there are limited researches regarding the role of uPAR on fibroblast-like synoviocytes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA-FLSs) and its underlying mechanisms.

Anti-TNF therapy in patients with HBV infection--analysis of 87 patients with inflammatory arthritis.

This study aims to investigate the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients with HBV infection using anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents and evaluate the efficacy of antiviral therapy in reducing the risk of viral reactivation in chronic HBV infection. IA patients using anti-TNF agents from six centers were enrolled. Their HBV infection conditions and ALT and HBV-DNA levels were monitored periodically.