Professor Zhang Xuan’s team from Peking Union Medical College Hospital discovered two new markers of rheumatoid arthritis: the anti-PTX3 antibody and the anti-DUSP11 antibody, which are helpful for early identification of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The research team also elaborated the pathogenic mechanism of the two new markers in pyroptosis and inflammatory cytokine storm. The series of discoveries were published in “Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases” and “Journal of Autoimmunity”, which are top journals in rheumatology.

In the paper published in “Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases”, professor Zhang Xuan’s team reported the discovery of two new markers of rheumatoid arthritis.

The paper published by Zhang Xuan’s team in “Journal of Autoimmunity” elaborated the pathogenic mechanism of the new markers in pyroptosis and inflammatory cytokine storm.

IL-6 promoted monocyte swelling, foaming and pyroptosis which were synergistically induced by PTX3 and C1q (as shown in the right picture). A large number of inflammatory cytokines were produced thereby, resulting in inflammatory cytokine storm. (ns: no stimulation, C: C1q, P: PTX3)

Reporter: Gan Dingzhu

Correspondent: Li Ketian

Picture: Department of Rheumatology

Translator: Jiang Nan

Editor: Yang Hongbo