The key role of a molecule in rheumatoid arthritis opens the door to new therapies

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints.

A new study now describes how an immune molecule found only in primates plays a key role in regulating inflammation .

This molecule is called IGFL2 , and according to the authors, the finding supports its potential as a diagnostic marker and target for new therapies.

Details of the research, led by Kyoto University in Japan, were published in the journal Science Immunology . Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints (the synovial membrane), causing pain, swelling, and progressive damage.

Approximately 18 million people worldwide suffer from it. Early diagnosis and treatment can relieve symptoms, slow disease progression, and help prevent disability.

Current therapies focus on reducing inflammation and preserving joint function, but up to 30% of patients do not respond well. This underscores the urgent need to better understand the disease for early diagnosis and the development of more effective treatments, the authors emphasize in a statement.

In their research, the researchers found that IGFL2 is produced by a subset of immune cells in the joints of RA patients and acts like fuel in a fire: it activates more immune cells, further amplifying inflammation and worsening joint damage.

And they found that levels of the molecule were much higher in the blood of RA patients, especially those with more severe symptoms .

These findings support the potential of this molecule as a diagnostic marker, a tool for monitoring disease progression, and a promising target for new therapies.

This paves the way for earlier detection, more effective treatments, and a better quality of life for people with rheumatoid arthritis worldwide, scientists say.

Looking ahead, researchers aim to clarify how IGFL2 expression is regulated and its functions within the immune system.

This work will deepen our understanding of the pathology and could lead to more accurate diagnoses, innovative targeted therapies, and ultimately improved outcomes and quality of life for people affected by this and other autoimmune diseases, emphasize the authors, led by Akinori Murakami.