Overview

• Published in Science Translational Medicine, the fine-resolution synovial tissue atlas maps detailed cell networks in children’s arthritic joints using advanced imaging and gene profiling.
• Researchers applied single-cell RNA sequencing, multiplexed immunofluorescence and spatial transcriptomics to biopsies collected during routine intra-articular injections.
• Age-stratified analysis revealed distinct immune cell invasions and vascular signatures in younger versus older children’s joints, highlighting pediatric-specific pathology.
• Ongoing validation studies aim to determine if unique cellular fingerprints can predict which therapies will be most effective for individual patients.
• The TRICIA partnership is organizing a larger multi-centre trial to expand biomarker discovery and advance personalized treatment approaches, buoyed by major UK research funding and family engagement.