Cell-free DNA: a metabolic byproduct with diagnostic and prognostic potential in rheumatic disorders.

The release of intracellular DNA into the extracellular area occurs via two pathways: cell death and active secretion by cells. The DNA, which is free in the extracellular space, is commonly known as Cell-Free DNA (cfDNA). In healthy people, the levels of cfDNA in the circulation are notably minimal.

Analysis of related factors for systemic lupus erythematosus flare after SARS-Cov-2 infection: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Since COVID-19 infections are more common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, most recent research has focused on the outcome of COVID-19, with fewer studies on disease activity in SLE. This research aims to evaluate flares in SLE with COVID-19 infection while investigating predictive factors.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information on patients with previously diagnosed SLE from multi-center.

Plasma exosomes from patients with coronary artery disease promote atherosclerosis via impairing vascular endothelial junctions.

The underlying mechanism of vascular endothelial hyperpermeability caused by decrease of endothelial junctions occurring in atherosclerosis remains elusive. Our findings identified that plasma exosomes from patients with stable coronary artery disease (Exo) contain differentially expressed miRNAs that are clustered with genes related to cell junctions, prompting us to investigate the role of Exo in regulating vascular endothelial junctions and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Here, we show that Exo markedly impair vascular endothelial junctions via suppressing VE-Cadherin and ZO-1 in endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo, consequently increases endothelial permeability.

The causal role of immune cells in primary Sjögren's syndrome: A two-sample Mendelian randomization.

Background: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of exocrine glands primarily via T-cell-mediated B-cell over-activation and cytokine production. This leads to pronounced dryness of the mouth and eyes and can result in multi-systemic involvement affecting the kidneys, lungs, and blood. In recent years, there has been increasing attention on the role of immune cells in pSS.

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells: whether they can become new stars of cell therapy.

Stem cell therapy constitutes a pivotal subject in contemporary discourse, with donor stem cells having been employed in research and clinical treatments for several decades. Primary cell transplantation encompasses diverse stem cell types, including ectomesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, and various stem cell derivatives such as vesicles and extracellular vesicles. Nevertheless, the emergence of cell engineering techniques has heralded a new epoch in stem cell therapy, markedly broadening their therapeutic potential.

Analysis of related factors for RA flares after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a retrospective study from patient survey.

SARS-CoV-2 and its variants are widely prevalent worldwide. With frequent secondary and breakthrough infections, immune dysfunction in RA patients, and long-term use of immune preparations, SARS-CoV-2 infection poses a significant challenge to patients and rheumatologists. Whether SARS-CoV-2 infection causes RA flares and what factors aggravate RA flares are poorly studied.

The heterogeneity of mesenchymal stem cells: an important issue to be addressed in cell therapy.

With the continuous improvement of human technology, the medical field has gradually moved from molecular therapy to cellular therapy. As a safe and effective therapeutic tool, cell therapy has successfully created a research boom in the modern medical field. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are derived from early mesoderm and have high self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation ability, and have become one of the important cores of cell therapy research by virtue of their immunomodulatory and tissue repair capabilities.

A clinical analysis of hemophagocytic syndrome secondary to autoimmune diseases.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the differences of etiologies and clinical features between patients with autoimmune-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (AAHS) and those with other underlying diseases of hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS).

Patients And Methods: The retrospective study was performed with 130 HPS patients (70 males, 60 females; mean age: 50.4±18.

Challenges and opportunities in animal models of psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: To review the preparation, characteristics and research progress of different PsA animal models.

Methods: Computerized searches were conducted in CNKI, PubMed and other databases to classify and discuss the relevant studies on PsA animal models. The search keywords were "PsA and animal model(s), PsA and animal(s), PsA and mouse, PsA and mice, PsA and rat(s), PsA and rabbit(s), PsA and dog(s)" RESULTS: The experimental animals currently used to study PsA are mainly rodents, including mice and rats.

Immunomodulatory effects of umbilical mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes on CD4 T cells in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Background: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease that leads to the destruction of exocrine glands and multisystem lesions. Abnormal proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation of CD4 T cells are key factors in the pathogenesis of pSS. Autophagy is one of the important mechanisms to maintain immune homeostasis and function of CD4 T cells.

Exploiting the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome for therapeutic treatment.

Sjögrens syndrome (SS) is caused by autoantibodies that attack proprioceptive salivary and lacrimal gland tissues. Damage to the glands leads to dry mouth and eyes and affects multiple systems and organs. In severe cases, SS is life-threatening because it can lead to interstitial lung disease, renal insufficiency, and lymphoma.

Role of the hedgehog signaling pathway in rheumatic diseases: An overview.

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signal transduction pathway that plays an important regulatory role during embryonic development, cell proliferation, and differentiation of vertebrates, and it is often inhibited in adult tissues. Recent evidence has shown that Hh signaling also plays a key role in rheumatic diseases, as alterations in their number or function have been identified in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic sclerosis, and Sjogren's Syndrome. As a result, emerging studies have focused on the blockade of this pathogenic axis as a promising therapeutic target in several autoimmune disorders; nevertheless, a greater understanding of its contribution still requires further investigation.

Synovial Macrophages: Past Life, Current Situation, and Application in Inflammatory Arthritis.

Inflammatory arthritis is an inflammatory disease that involves the joints and surrounding tissues. Synovial hyperplasia often presents when joints become inflamed due to immune cell infiltration. Synovial membrane is an important as well as a highly specific component of the joint, and its lesions can lead to degeneration of the joint surface, causing pain and joint disability or affecting the patients' quality of life in severe cases.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles ameliorate collagen-induced arthritis via immunomodulatory T lymphocytes.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease for which there are currently no effective therapies. Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can prevent arthritis through immunomodulatory mechanisms, there are several associated risks. Alternatively, MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) can mimic the effects of MSCs, while reducing the risk of adverse events.

Pentraxin 3 is more accurate than C-reactive protein for Takayasu arteritis activity assessment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Whether the circulating levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), an acute phase reactant (APR), are higher in active Takayasu arteritis (TAK), and if so, whether PTX3 is more accurate than C-reactive protein (CRP) in TAK activity assessment has been investigated in this study.

Study Design: Research works such as PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and two Chinese literature databases (CNKI and WanFang) were searched for studies conducted till August 30th, 2019. Two investigators searched the studies independently, who evaluated the quality of the study using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) and extracted data.