Concept Development for Tissue Analytics in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are relatively common, severe autoimmune diseases. These two diseases represent examples of a larger number of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, juvenile diabetes, and psoriasis, among many others that collectively affect millions of Americans. Basic and clinical studies have shown that these diseases share in common abnormalities in adaptive and innate immune function and regulation, resulting in inflammation that destroys end organ function. The specific immunological aberrations and the location of inflammation differ for each disease but all include B and T cell related autoimmunity combined with innate leukocyte (macrophage, neutrophil) mediated inflammation.