Abstract
Synovial tissue is a key structure in diarthrodial joints and is the primary target of inflammation in autoimmune arthritis. The study of synovial tissue has developed significantly in the last two decades as arthroscopic and ultrasonographic techniques have allowed visualization and access to synovial biopsy. Further progress in synovial tissue processing and analysis has improved studies of disease pathogenesis, biomarker discovery, and molecular therapeutic targeting with increasingly specialized analytical and technological approaches. In September 2018 the first course on Synovial Tissue Biopsies was convened in Brussels, in this Mini Review these approaches will be described and I will summarize how synovial tissue research advanced.
Highlights
AND HISTORYThe main focus of synovial tissue research has been rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as the most prevalent cause of inflammatory synovitis
Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels is probably an early event enabling infiltration of immune cells such as T cells, B cells and monocytes, and is aberrant resulting in an abnormal blood vessel pattern [4]
The analysis of synovial tissue biopsies has advanced our understanding of RA pathogenesis, yielded potential therapeutic targets, and allows detailed evaluation of new therapies [9, 10]
Summary
- Synovial tissue is the target tissue of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). - Synovial biopsy, under local anesthetic, is safe and well-tolerated by patients - Cellular and molecular analysis of the synovial tissue of RA patients might identify novel targets for therapy and specific biomarkers. - Technological advances in single cell and molecular analysis provides new opportunities for discovery
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