Single Cell RNA in RA Synovium

Ectopic lymphoid structures (ELS) can develop in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial tissue, but the precise pathways of B cell activation and selection are not well understood. Here, we identified a unique B cell population in the synovium characterized by co-expression of a family of orphan nuclear receptors, NR4A1 (also known as NUR77), NR4A2 (NURR1) and NR4A3 (NOR1), that is highly enriched at both early and late stages of RA. See doi:10.1101/2021.05.14.443150 for details. Overall design: B cells from Synovium (4 donors) were disaggregated by combination of an enzymatic digestion and mechanical disruption. For one matched donor, B cells were sorted from peripheral blood. B cells were gated as CD45+CD3-CD14-CD19+.