Rheumatoid Arthritis: From Molecular Mechanism to Emerging Therapeutic Target
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 43
Special Issue Editors
2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20089 Milan, Italy
Interests: rheumatoid arthritis; synovial tissue; molecular analysis; precision medicine
Interests: rheumatology; inflammation; immunity; arthritis; osteoarthritis
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease marked by sustained joint inflammation, cartilage destruction, and progressive bone erosion. Over the past decade, molecular research has unravelled pivotal contributions made to the pathogenesis of RA of multiple cell lineages, including T and B cells, macrophages, synovial fibroblasts, and cytokines, such as TNFa and IL6, which have led to the development of targeted biologic therapies. Though such therapies have brought about major improvements in the outlook of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), approximately 40% of patients do not respond to individual biologics, while 5–20% of patients are refractory to current medications. Meanwhile, synovial biopsy has emerged as a powerful tool for in-depth tissue profiling, enabling the direct analysis of cellular and molecular signatures within the joint microenvironment defining target expression levels to guide patient-specific targeted therapeutic strategies. Also, novel targets—including Janus kinases (JAKs), Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) pathways—have been identified, alongside innovative microbiome-based and immunomodulatory approaches. This Special Issue invites the submission of original research, comprehensive reviews, preclinical and translational studies, and clinical trials that deepen mechanistic insights, uncover new biomarkers, and validate emerging targets. Emphasis will also be placed on precision medicine approaches, the interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental triggers, and the application of synovial biopsy-driven stratification to optimize personalized interventions and improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Elisa Gremese
Prof. Dr. Costantino Pitzalis
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- rheumatoid arthritis
- molecular mechanisms
- emerging therapeutic targets
- precision medicine
- synovial tissue
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