Immunology

dna

Sequencing DNA to find new lupus treatments

EurekAlert!

Medical University of South Carolina geneticist Betty Tsao, Ph.D., will lead a five-year project to identify rare mutations associated with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, with more than $3.5 million in funding from the National Institute of Arthritis and

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Associations in Rheumatology (10.3.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and important associations in rheumatology from the past week on RheumNow.com.

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Rheumatoid arthritis begins long before symptoms

EurekAlert!

Scientists have discovered that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) doesn’t start when the pain begins. It silently starts years earlier.The new research reveals that people at risk for RA experience dramatic immune system changes long before they feel symptoms.   

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CART

CAR-T Product Shows Early Promise in Lupus

Five patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in China have been treated with a potentially groundbreaking form of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, researchers reported, with encouraging results after 3 months.

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Definitions for Interstitial Lung Disease: A Consensusfrom the Fleischner Society https://t.co/2r9oS1Eb9k https://t.co/GqKq5E0bmp

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Controversies in ILD This deep dive into controversies in interstitial lung disease explored complex topics including IPAF, methotrexate, systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease vs. connective tissue disease distinctions, and the evolving role of anti-fibrotic therapy. Panelists: https://t.co/ekP1Gg73yj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Evidence of immune ageing detected at the earliest stages of RA. Study of 69 controls, 32 CSA, 44 undiff. arthritis (UA), 23 early RA, & 56 DMARD naive RA. UA & CSA had reduced naive CD4 T cells. Th17, Tregs &7 senescent T cells, were only seen once RA was established. https://t.co/c1wiA5gvM5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
In lupus patients presenting with demyelinating symptoms, consider a probable disease overlap between NPSLE and NMOSD. >>>> serum AQP4 is highly specific for NMOSD. @RheumNow #APLAR25 @rheumarhyme @marklagacmd https://t.co/2Z8rbJ3a1c

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sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
Different B cells depletion strategies in SARDs highlighted by Georg Schett From low and short lived depletion achieved w/ drugs to sustained deep tissular depletion with CAR T cells leading to potential immune reset @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/t35lrzEomF

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Juvenile Lupus: some new mechanistic data Circulating Treg population are expanded in SLE and in particular in Lupus Nephritis compared to HC Naive Treg display specific molecular features in particular over expression of FCRL3 and TLR5 showing new pathways to explore in https://t.co/RuMtWRkpYB

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Hyperferritinemia is common in Hyperinflammatory syndromes but is a hallmark of Macrophage activation syndrome and Sepsis; and is a poor prognostic sign too. MAS is excessive activation of T-lymphocytes & macrophages leading to cytokine storm & multi-organ damage. https://t.co/MUKXC0Tw3M
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
A new player in AIRD ThA age associated T helper cells Displaying both Cytotoxic & APC functions Correlation with disease activity in RA and SLE More research is needed to better characterize function but could be a promising therapeutic target @RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/4SnY65tXpJ

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Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Controversies in ILD Join leading experts as they tackle complex topics: IPAF, MTX, SARD vs. CTD, and anti-fibrotic therapy. 📅 Sep 16, 2025 | ⏰ 7 PM ET Jeffrey Sparks, MD | Janet Pope, MD | Elena Joerns, MD Moderator: Jack Cush, MD 👉 Register: https://t.co/O4FQNyGeTr https://t.co/jIfjuWWNvp

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
🆕 Intro to ILD (Part I): the essentials 🫁 Definition & basics 🔬 Key pathology patterns 🧑⚕️ Clinical approach 📋 What rheums need to know ⬇️ Download & learn more: https://t.co/Fn76PiGsPl Created by @MithuRheum | via @RheumNow for our Rheum to Breathe: ILD Campaign https://t.co/MalDKUjonR

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Elevated serum levels of interleukin-18 discriminate Still's disease from other autoinflammatory conditions. Sera from 53 mSAID, 220 guSAID, 49 controls show IL-18 signif increased in Still's Dz; free IL-18 levels were selectively higher in Still's disease. https://t.co/8IWXWZmWgE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Elevated serum levels of interleukin-18 discriminate Still's disease from other autoinflammatory conditions. Sera from 53 mSAID, 220 guSAID, 49 controls show IL-18 signif increased in Still's Dz; free IL-18 levels were selectively higher in Still's disease. https://t.co/oAd3JwDR5D
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Review of cancer-associated myositis (CAM) & assoc myositis-specific or myositis-associated autoantibodies. 2017 meta-analysis 5 studies & 4538 pts w/ DM or PM, the cancer risk (SIR) for DM = 4.66, but PM = 1.75. Cancer risk ^^ w/ Low serum KL-6, TIF1γ, NXP2, HMGCR Abs https://t.co/xsOt4wPIXB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Might systemic autoimmune Dz related anti-protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5). ELISA study of 33 SSc, 87 RA, & 31 controls. Vs controls, anti-PRMT5 Abs seen in SSc (48% vs 0; AUC 0.9) & RA (15% vs 0; AUC 0.768). PRMT5 Abs signif assoc w/ ILD & ANA positivity. https://t.co/svjjtQQsIY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Lupus Core Dataset for Research SLE is a complex and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease. Part of the complexity stems from how it can differ from person to person – giving rise to marked heterogeneity in not only manifestations, but also in disease course and https://t.co/jHD9L3Bc2Y
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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ILD Begins (8.29.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com. This week news on vaccines, safety of acetaminophen and more.

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Lupus Core Dataset for Research

EurekAlert!

SLE is a complex and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease. Part of the complexity stems from how it can differ from person to person – giving rise to marked heterogeneity in not only manifestations, but also in disease course and treatment response. To support better understanding

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Sjögren's Graduates (8.22.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports, FDA approvals, drug safety, and more from this week.

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Future,space,time

Rheums Speak: Future of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

The third survey in this series addressed clinician views on future trends (AI), future therapies and lessons learned.

This survey captured 233 responses from rheumatologists (91), most (61%) from the USA. US respondents were from the Southeast (17.5%), Southwest (11.4%), Mid-Atlantic (

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Repurposing & Pipeline (8.8.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, reports, pipeline and drug repurposing on this week’s podcast.

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Dermatomyositis Reviewed

Jack Cush, MD

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have published an open-access review of dermatomyositis (DM) - its manifestations, hallmark cutaneous features, etiopathogenesis and treatment options.

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Recent Blogs

CNS Lupus (NPSLE)

Jack Cush, MD
Cush RhTh CNS
29 yr. old woman with SLE and transverse myelitis. Is this NPSLE; how to diagnose? Read Post

Unpopular opinion: spinach can be bad for you

Lara El Khoury, MD
pro con unsure opinion thumbs debate
PMR might be one of the most rewarding diagnoses to make in real practice: the patient comes to you in severe debilitating pain, and you prescribe steroids, giving them their lives back! As much as this impressive response makes your intervention appear almost magical, there is the often-forgotten story about the implications of such a diagnosis and treatment on patients' daily lives.  Read Post
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