The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting 2012: Genes Not the Only Factor in Susceptibility to Rheumatoid Arthritis

ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting 2012: Genes Not the Only Factor in Susceptibility to Rheumatoid Arthritis

March 1, 2013 • By Susan Bernstein

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Although genes clearly play a role in the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), that role may be less influential than scientists once believed. Other factors may influence susceptibility more, including epigenetics, innate immunity, and even preventable environmental stresses like cigarette smoking.

You Might Also Like
  • 2013 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: Genetic Research Yields Clues to Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis
  • ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting 2012: Fatigue for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis Rooted in Physiological and Psychological Factors
  • ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting 2012: Early Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis May Appear Outside the Joints
Explore This Issue
March 2013
Also By This Author
  • The ACR’s 2015 Workforce Study Reveals Gap Between Rheumatologist Supply, Patient Demand

“Susceptibility to RA is more than our genes,” said Gary S. Firestein, MD, professor of medicine and dean of translational medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Dr. Firestein delivered the Rheumatology Research Foundation’s Edward D. Harris, Jr. Memorial Lecture, “Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Voyage from Pre-Rheumatoid Arthritis to Joint Destruction,” at the 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, held here November 9–14. [Editor’s Note: This session was recorded and is available via ACR SessionSelect at www.rheumatology.org.] His research on the origins of RA was conducted in collaboration with William Arend, MD, at the University of Colorado, Denver.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Before classic symptoms of RA appear, what occurs at the cellular level to lay the groundwork for disease development? A particular genetic makeup is merely one component of the pathway to RA, said Dr. Firestein. “Genes are ‘predetermined’ influences. They help define who we are, but then this is influenced by epigenetics, environment, and innate immunity.”

Past research into the role of T cells, B cells, cytokines, and antigen-presenting cells, and how their interactions lead to synovial inflammation, contributed to the development of now–widely used treatments like anticytokine therapy, Dr. Firestein explained. Now, newer research on the pathogenesis of RA might one day lead to more effective treatments or allow rheumatologists to intervene before symptoms appear, he said.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

“We are challenging the concept that RA begins as a synovial disease marked by autoimmunity,” he added. Scores of genes, especially HLA-DR, can influence prevalence of RA, but these have only a modest influence on disease susceptibility. Genes can factor into RA susceptibility in the case of the major histocompatibility complex, or MHC. The particular amino acids that are on the surface of the HLA-DR MHC molecule bind to key peptides that are, in turn, recognized by T-cell receptors, triggering an immune response.

“Genes clearly play a role in RA, but not necessarily a dominant role,” said Dr. Firestein. Illustrating this point is the fact that there is a surprising low concordance of RA in identical twins. Nongenetic influences, including epigenetics, innate immunity, infections, in utero or post-birth exposure to harmful elements, or stresses like cigarette smoke, all can contribute to a person’s susceptibility to and development of RA. “In fact, the risk for RA could be more than 80% to 90% nongenetic,” he added.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions, Meeting Reports, Rheumatoid Arthritis Tagged With: ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, epigenetics, Research, Rheumatoid arthritisIssue: March 2013

You Might Also Like:
  • 2013 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: Genetic Research Yields Clues to Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis
  • ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting 2012: Fatigue for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis Rooted in Physiological and Psychological Factors
  • ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting 2012: Early Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis May Appear Outside the Joints
  • ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting 2012: Can Studying Anticitrullinated Protein Antibodies Put Us on Track to Stop RA?

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2021 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.