New Delhi : Rheumatoid arthritis begins years before symptoms appear, scientists say, showing that the disease silently develops long before patients notice signs. This advance could allow earlier treatment and prevention.
RA is a debilitating autoimmune disease that causes painful joint inflammation and joint damage.
The new research, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, shows that during the early phase of RA, the body fights an invisible autoimmune battle.
This inflammation does not stay localized in the joints. Instead, it triggers a body-wide inflammatory state similar to what occurs in people with active RA.
“Overall, we hope this study raises awareness that rheumatoid arthritis begins much earlier than previously thought and enables researchers to make data-driven decisions on strategies to disrupt disease development,” said Mark Gillespie, assistant investigator at the Allen Institute, US.
During the seven-year study, researchers tracked people carrying ACPA antibodies, known biomarkers for individuals at risk of developing RA. They also discovered previously unknown factors linked to disease development, including widespread inflammation, immune cell dysfunction, and cellular reprogramming.
The team observed that several types of immune cells in at-risk individuals had significant abnormalities. B cells, which normally produce protective antibodies, had shifted toward a pro-inflammatory state.
Additionally, T helper cells, particularly a subset resembling Tfh17 cells, expanded dramatically beyond normal levels.
Remarkably, the study found that even “naive” T cells—immune cells that haven’t encountered threats before—showed epigenetic changes.
Researchers also detected monocytes, a type of white blood cell in the bloodstream, producing high levels of inflammatory molecules.
These blood cells closely resembled the macrophages found in inflamed joint tissue of RA patients, suggesting the disease process already prepares to target joints.
The study highlights new early-warning signs, such as biomarkers and immune signatures, that could help doctors identify at-risk individuals. This enables more targeted monitoring and earlier intervention.
If doctors catch RA early, they could stop it before it starts—saving patients years of pain and disability.
–IANS
