Rheumatism Related Genes, Identification

Definition

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of mainly unknown etiology. It predominantly affects the joints and leads to their progressive destruction. Considering that the prevalence of RA in adults is estimated to be as high as 0.5–1% and that work disability affects as much as half of the patients 10 years after onset of the disease, both the costs for public health systems and the social consequences for the individual patient are enormous.

The current model for RA pathogenesis proposes interaction between chronic inflammation, altered immune responses and synovial hyperplasia (previously called pannus). Synovial fibroblasts release large amounts of matrix‐degrading enzymes and are thereby cellular key players in cartilage and bone destruction. The complex pathophysiology of joint destruction is still only partially understood, which limits the generation of specific therapies. Thus, the exponential development of new techniques in the field of molecular...