RNA-Seq of human lymph node stromal cells during the earliest phases of rheumatoid arthritis

Lymph node stromal cells (LNSCs) are an important lymphoid tissue cellular type that regulates the immune response and maintain peripheral tolerance. In rheumatoid arthritis, break of tolerance and formation of autoantibodies occurs years before arthritis. Studies in mice have shown lymph nodes activation before the onset of arthritis. We hypothesize that malfunctioning of LNSCs leads to a microenvironment where immune responses are not properly controlled leading to activation of (autoreactive) lymphocytes and the production of autoantibodies. Here we studied human LNSCs and search for differentially expressed genes between RA at risk or RA versus healthy using RNA sequencing in order to identify new therapeutic targets.