{"title":"The apprehension of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis","authors":"Iqra Javed, Cynthia S. Crowson","doi":"10.1038/s41584-025-01289-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01289-8","url":null,"abstract":"Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often misunderstood and underrecognized, and this leads to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Emerging studies highlight distinct features and unmet needs of seronegative RA, calling for increased awareness of the challenges faced by patients and the need for tailored therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes.","PeriodicalId":18810,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Rheumatology","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":33.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144756460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristine A. Kuhn, Kentaro Yomogida, Kathryn Knoop, Hsin-Jung Joyce Wu, Mario M. Zaiss
{"title":"More than a leaky gut: how gut priming shapes arthritis","authors":"Kristine A. Kuhn, Kentaro Yomogida, Kathryn Knoop, Hsin-Jung Joyce Wu, Mario M. Zaiss","doi":"10.1038/s41584-025-01282-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01282-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The gut microbiome forms an ecosystem that provides the host with numerous benefits such as digestion with nutrient generation, protection from pathogens and immune system maturation. Alterations in the microbial ecosystem associated with rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis have led to the gut–joint hypothesis, which postulates that these ecological changes cause immune dysfunction that contributes to the development of arthritis. Mechanisms by which dysbiosis might trigger arthritis include molecular mimicry, dysregulation of mucosal immunity, microbial translocation, production of immunomodulatory metabolites and immune cell trafficking. We discuss the data supporting each of these mechanisms, and highlight misconceptions, limitations and gaps in knowledge. In particular, we advise against the term ‘leaky-gut’ as the mechanisms and effects on the immune system of intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation are distinct. Nevertheless, rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis possibly result from the convergence of multiple pathways that could be unique to subgroups of individuals within these diseases. To move the field forward, each mechanism needs to be considered through the use of model organisms and interventional trials, individually and in concert.</p>","PeriodicalId":18810,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Rheumatology","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":33.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144747292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maurizio Cutolo, Stefano Soldano, Vanessa Smith, Emanuele Gotelli, Elvis Hysa
{"title":"Dynamic macrophage phenotypes in autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic diseases","authors":"Maurizio Cutolo, Stefano Soldano, Vanessa Smith, Emanuele Gotelli, Elvis Hysa","doi":"10.1038/s41584-025-01279-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01279-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Macrophages regulate inflammatory and fibrotic processes in several autoimmune and inflammatory rheumatic diseases. They are highly plastic cells, shifting within a range of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory or pro-fibrotic phenotypes in response to dynamic interactions with other cells, environmental factors and cytokine signatures. The terms ‘M1 macrophages’, or classically activated, and ‘M2 macrophages’, or alternatively activated, were previously used to denote pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophage subsets, respectively, but this classification system has been outdated by in vivo evidence of a continuum of macrophage phenotypes that includes M1-like, M2-like and hybrid phenotypes. Deciphering the specific mechanisms that drive macrophage plasticity and function during the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and in synovitis and large vessel vasculitis in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant-cell arteritis, can improve our understanding of disease pathophysiology. Macrophage plasticity is enhanced in synovial tissue in rheumatoid arthritis, fibrotic skin and lung in systemic sclerosis, damaged kidney in systemic lupus erythematosus, and the bursal tissues or large vessels in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant-cell arteritis. Sophisticated transcriptomic analyses have revealed various phenotypic clusters of macrophages in biopsies of affected organs. Moreover, macrophage plasticity seems to be targeted by some standardized drugs used to treat the aforementioned conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":18810,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Rheumatology","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":33.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144715325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Timing matters in diagnosis of cancer with immune-mediated inflammatory disease","authors":"Dongxue Wang, Jianguang Ji","doi":"10.1038/s41584-025-01288-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01288-9","url":null,"abstract":"Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are associated with cancer risk through mechanisms involving disrupted immune tolerance and dysregulated immune responses. Deng et al. investigated how the timing of IMID diagnosis relative to cancer diagnosis affects patient survival outcomes.","PeriodicalId":18810,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Rheumatology","volume":"52 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":33.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144694103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guillermo J. Pons-Estel, María Fernanda Ramírez-Flores, Rosana Quintana, Sang-Cheol Bae, Dzifa Dey, Bernardo A. Pons-Estel, Ingris Peláez-Ballestas
{"title":"Addressing the challenge of global delays in diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus","authors":"Guillermo J. Pons-Estel, María Fernanda Ramírez-Flores, Rosana Quintana, Sang-Cheol Bae, Dzifa Dey, Bernardo A. Pons-Estel, Ingris Peláez-Ballestas","doi":"10.1038/s41584-025-01277-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01277-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Systemic lupus erythematosus is a complex and increasingly prevalent disease that presents substantial challenges in both diagnosis and management. Diagnostic delays frequently lead to irreversible organ damage, and remain a crucial concern, mainly among vulnerable populations, such as minority ethnic groups and those living in the global south. These delays are exacerbated by the clinical heterogeneity of systemic lupus erythematosus, the lack of specific diagnostic biomarkers, gaps in disease awareness or medical training, and persistent health care disparities, particularly in low-resource settings. This Perspective highlights the urgent need for a standardized definition of diagnostic delay that accounts for both clinical and socio-economic factors. By prioritizing early intervention and expanding access to specialized care, we can improve patient outcomes and reduce the long-term burden of the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":18810,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Rheumatology","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":33.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144669630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Guided management of familial Mediterranean fever","authors":"Hatem El-Shanti","doi":"10.1038/s41584-025-01281-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01281-2","url":null,"abstract":"Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a monogenic autoinflammatory disorder with high prevalence in Mediterranean populations. Considerable advances in the management of FMF have been made in the past decade, with respect to the use of biologic drugs and understanding colchicine resistance. The 2024 updated FMF management recommendations are timely and reflect these advances.","PeriodicalId":18810,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Rheumatology","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":33.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144593920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Csaba Matta, Roland Takács, Mona Dvir-Ginzberg, Stephen M. Richardson, Karoliina Pelttari, Girish Pattappa, Makarand V. Risbud, Ali Mobasheri
{"title":"Insights into chondrocyte populations in cartilaginous tissues at the single-cell level","authors":"Csaba Matta, Roland Takács, Mona Dvir-Ginzberg, Stephen M. Richardson, Karoliina Pelttari, Girish Pattappa, Makarand V. Risbud, Ali Mobasheri","doi":"10.1038/s41584-025-01275-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01275-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Chondrocyte biology is being revolutionized by single-cell multi-omics technologies, revealing cellular heterogeneity within cartilaginous tissues. Although past research has implicated cellular heterogeneity in chondrocyte populations, advances over the past decade in single-cell transcriptomics now enable a more granular, functionally annotated classification of chondrocyte subtypes. These analyses provide crucial insights into the role of these subtypes in cartilage formation, maintenance and disease progression. Chondrocyte populations are implicated in tissue homeostasis, pathogenesis and responses to external stimuli, including pro-inflammatory mediators and novel therapeutic agents. This knowledge opens pathways for developing targeted treatments for diseases such as osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc disease. Insights into the molecular signatures of disease-critical chondrocyte populations provide a foundation for biomarker discovery and therapeutic targeting, and there are exciting opportunities for leveraging these findings to progress regenerative therapies. Spatial and temporal profiling of cellular markers, behaviour and metabolic activity will enhance understanding of disease pathogenesis and chondrosenescence and could possibly enable early intervention for osteoarthritis, thereby preventing irreversible joint damage. Future research must integrate advanced single-cell techniques with computational modelling to unravel the dynamic interplay of chondrocyte populations. These efforts could transform precision medicine in rheumatology, addressing the unmet clinical needs in cartilage-related diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":18810,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Rheumatology","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":33.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144594670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells on the skin–joint route","authors":"Maria Papatriantafyllou","doi":"10.1038/s41584-025-01284-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01284-z","url":null,"abstract":"Skin- and joint-resident CD8+ T cells that share clonality also share phenotypic similarities in psoriatic arthritis.","PeriodicalId":18810,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Rheumatology","volume":"72 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":33.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144586417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nerandomilast slows progression of pulmonary fibrosis","authors":"Maria Papatriantafyllou","doi":"10.1038/s41584-025-01285-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01285-y","url":null,"abstract":"The anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory agent nerandomilast has shown promise for the treatment of both idiopathic and progressive pulmonary fibrosis in phase III trials.","PeriodicalId":18810,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Rheumatology","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":33.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144586418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synovial fibroblast-mediated neovascularization in RA","authors":"Holly Webster","doi":"10.1038/s41584-025-01283-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-025-01283-0","url":null,"abstract":"A study provides insights into the factors that regulate synovial fibroblast interactions with endothelial cells in RA and subsequent pathogenic neovascularization.","PeriodicalId":18810,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Rheumatology","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":33.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144586416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}