Hidden mechanism driving joint tissue growth in rheumatoid arthritis has been found

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Scientists at the Hospital for Special Surgery have identified a key immune cell population driving abnormal joint tissue growth in rheumatoid arthritis. The discovery offers new insights into disease progression and potential therapeutic strategies.

Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) have identified a specialized population of immune cells that plays a central role in driving abnormal tissue growth in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), offering new insight into disease progression and potential treatment strategies. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, reveals that a subset of immune cells known as SPP1ʰⁱ macrophages works in tandem with structural cells and protein scaffolds to promote excessive tissue expansion in the joints of patients with RA.