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Life
Special Issues
Research and Management in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
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Research and Management in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

A Special Issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729) belonging to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 7620

Editor

Dr. Panagiotis Athanassiou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Rheumatology, St. Paul’s Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: rheumatoid arthritis; tumor necrosis factor; fatty acids; treatment; systemic lupus erythematosus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases represent a major problem for physicians and researchers alike. Autoimmune diseases have seen a significant increase in incidence and prevalence all over the world. The etiology behind this augmented prevalence and incidence of autoimmune rheumatic diseases is not known and poses a major problem for physicians and researchers alike. Additionally, the incidence and prevalence of multiple autoimmunity are increasing, and it is currently seen in many patients. However, even as autoimmune rheumatic diseases are increasing in prevalence and incidence, novel therapeutic agents are becoming available. These agents offer new hope for successful treatment and better prognosis for patients and physicians alike. In particular, biologic agents have had a major impact on the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. JAK inhibitors also offer hope for treatment and better quality of life in patients. Recently, cell-based therapies such as CAR-T cell treatment have become part of the armamentarium for the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Novel research has allowed the identification of major pathways involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. For this Special Issue, we welcome any paper related to the pathogenesis or treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Dr. Panagiotis Athanassiou
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • autoimmune rheumatic diseases
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • systemic lupus erythematosus
  • systemic sclerosis
  • Sjogren's syndrome
  • biologic agents
  • JAK inhibitors

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1660 KB  
Article
Receptor–Ligand Biomarker Profile in Ankylosing Spondylitis: Associations Between AXL/MERTK Expression, Circulating GAS6 and Protein S Levels, and Disease Activity
by Sevil Ceyhan Dogan, Cemile Zontul, Mert Atas, Esma Ozmen, Gulcihan Cinar Kaya, Ayca Tas and Ahmet Karadag
Life 2026, 16(7), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16071066 - 26 Jun 2026
Viewed by 398
Abstract
(1) Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease associated with immune dysregulation. The TYRO3, AXL, and MER (TAM) signaling pathway, comprising AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL), MER tyrosine kinase (MERTK), growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6), and [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease associated with immune dysregulation. The TYRO3, AXL, and MER (TAM) signaling pathway, comprising AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL), MER tyrosine kinase (MERTK), growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6), and Protein S, is a key regulator of immune homeostasis. This study investigated these receptor–ligand components in patients with AS. (2) Methods: A total of 45 patients with AS and 44 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum GAS6 and Protein S levels were measured by ELISA, and AXL and MERTK expression levels were analyzed by RT-qPCR. Clinical and inflammatory parameters were also evaluated. (3) Results: ESR, CRP, and IL-6 levels were significantly higher, whereas Protein S levels were significantly lower in patients with AS than in controls. No significant differences were observed in GAS6, AXL, or MERTK expression levels, although lower expression trends were detected in patients. Logistic regression analysis identified CRP, IL-6, Protein S, and AXL expression as variables independently associated with AS. ROC analysis demonstrated significant discriminatory performance for AXL expression. (4) Conclusions: Alterations in the TAM signaling pathway, particularly reduced Protein S levels and altered AXL expression, may contribute to immune dysregulation and persistent inflammation in AS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Management in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases)
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Review

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27 pages, 933 KB  
Review
Recent Advances in Biomarkers of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Clinical Relevance and Therapeutic Perspectives
by Rasha-Ioana Rămoiu-Shehada, Anca Emanuela Mușetescu, Lucian-Mihai Florescu, Alesandra Florescu and Paulina-Lucia Ciurea
Life 2026, 16(9), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16091420 - 27 Aug 2026
Viewed by 47
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis and a major clinical challenge due to its heterogeneous presentation and variable disease course. Reliable biomarkers may improve disease assessment, risk stratification, and therapeutic decision-making. This [...] Read more.
Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis and a major clinical challenge due to its heterogeneous presentation and variable disease course. Reliable biomarkers may improve disease assessment, risk stratification, and therapeutic decision-making. This narrative review summarizes current evidence on established and emerging serum and molecular biomarkers in SSc-ILD and their potential clinical applications. Recent advances have shifted the focus from single-marker assessment toward integrated biomarker profiling, reflecting the complex pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. KL-6 and surfactant protein D (SP-D) have been associated with pulmonary involvement and radiographic features of SSc-ILD. Inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), and autoantibodies such as anti-topoisomerase I (anti-Scl-70) have been associated with disease severity and an increased risk of pulmonary progression. Emerging biomarkers related to epithelial injury, extracellular matrix remodelling, and vascular dysfunction may provide additional insights into the biological mechanisms underlying SSc-ILD. Current evidence highlights the potential of circulating and molecular biomarkers to refine risk stratification and prognostic assessment in SSc-ILD. Prospective validation and methodological standardization remain necessary to determine their clinical utility and potential integration into personalized disease management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Management in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases)
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18 pages, 521 KB  
Review
Psoriatic Arthritis: Therapeutic Advances and Novel Treatment Strategies—A Scoping Review
by Lambros Athanassiou, Ifigenia Kostoglou-Athanassiou, Georgia Kaiafa, Christos Savopoulos, Yehuda Shoenfeld and Panagiotis Athanassiou
Life 2026, 16(5), 740; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16050740 - 29 Apr 2026
Viewed by 2424
Abstract
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting both the joints and the skin, with the potential involvement of multiple organ systems. A hallmark feature of PsA is enthesitis—inflammation at the sites where tendons and ligaments insert into bone—which arises from [...] Read more.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting both the joints and the skin, with the potential involvement of multiple organ systems. A hallmark feature of PsA is enthesitis—inflammation at the sites where tendons and ligaments insert into bone—which arises from a combination of mechanical stress and immune-mediated inflammation. Another defining characteristic of the disease is the paradoxical coexistence of bone erosion and new bone formation, distinguishing it from other inflammatory arthritides. The therapeutic landscape of PsA has evolved considerably over time. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remain a cornerstone of symptom management, while conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), such as methotrexate, are widely used to control disease progression. The introduction of biologic agents has revolutionized PsA management, with TNF inhibitors, IL-17 inhibitors, and IL-23 inhibitors demonstrating efficacy across a broad range of clinical manifestations. More recently, targeted synthetic small molecules—including JAK inhibitors and TYK2 inhibitors—have expanded the armamentarium of available therapies. The overarching goals of treatment in PsA include the suppression of the underlying inflammatory process and the prevention of structural joint damage. The impact of each therapeutic option on cutaneous psoriasis is an additional and important consideration that guides individualized treatment options. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Management in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases)
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26 pages, 922 KB  
Review
Targeting GM-CSF in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Advances in Cytokine-Directed Immunotherapy and Clinical Implications
by Mario García-Domínguez
Life 2025, 15(11), 1737; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15111737 - 12 Nov 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4120
Abstract
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has emerged as a key cytokine in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease distinguished by synovial inflammation and progressive joint destruction. GM-CSF orchestrates the activation, proliferation, and differentiation of myeloid cells (mainly macrophages and neutrophils) thereby sustaining [...] Read more.
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has emerged as a key cytokine in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease distinguished by synovial inflammation and progressive joint destruction. GM-CSF orchestrates the activation, proliferation, and differentiation of myeloid cells (mainly macrophages and neutrophils) thereby sustaining the pro-inflammatory synovial milieu. Recent advances in monoclonal antibody immunotherapy have enabled selective inhibition of GM-CSF or its receptor. Clinical data on several monoclonal antibodies are presented, focusing on their pharmacodynamic properties and efficacy results documented in phase II and III clinical studies. Cumulative evidence supports GM-CSF inhibition as a compelling strategy for modulating inflammation and improving clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Management in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases)
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