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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 7, 2026

Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research

Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research

Published on: January 5, 2024

Fibroblast-Neuron interactions Driving persistent Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis (FiND-Pain RA) - an observational

Mikalena Xenophontos^1,2, Friederike C Baldeweg^3,4, Rosie Ross³

¹Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK mikalena.xenophontos@kennedy.ox.ac.uk.

|December 25, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study investigates pro-algesic mediators in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pain, finding that leukaemia inhibitory factor in sub-lining fibroblasts correlates with knee pain scores in RA patients.

Keywords:

Biopsy Chronic Pain IMMUNOLOGY RHEUMATOLOGY

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Author Spotlight: Isolation and Culture of Primary Synovial Macrophages and Fibroblasts from Murine Arthritis Tissue

Author Spotlight: Isolation and Culture of Primary Synovial Macrophages and Fibroblasts from Murine Arthritis Tissue

Published on: February 24, 2023

Area of Science:

Rheumatology
Pain Medicine
Cell Biology

Background:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pain is a significant clinical challenge, often inadequately managed by current disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Central sensitization and peripheral sensitization by synovial fibroblasts contribute to RA pain.
Synovial fibroblasts may produce pro-algesic mediators that activate sensory nerves, driving persistent pain.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify pro-algesic mediators produced by lining versus sub-lining synovial fibroblasts in RA.
To determine if the levels of these mediators correlate with clinical pain measures in RA patients.
To investigate the role of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) as a novel pain mediator in RA.

Main Methods:

A multicentre observational study (FiND-Pain RA) involving 50 seropositive RA patients.
Collection of synovial biopsies for fibroblast analysis and measurement of pro-algesic mediators.
Correlation of mediator levels with patient-reported knee pain scores and characterization of nerve fiber proximity.

Main Results:

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) levels in sub-lining fibroblasts showed a significant correlation with knee pain scores in RA patients.
Other pro-algesic mediators produced by lining and sub-lining fibroblasts were identified and their correlation with pain is under investigation.
The spatial relationship between sensory nerve fibers and fibroblast layers was characterized.

Conclusions:

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a potential key mediator in RA knee pain, originating from sub-lining synovial fibroblasts.
Understanding the role of specific mediators and fibroblast populations may lead to novel pain management strategies for RA.
Further research will elucidate the complete role of these mediators in RA pain mechanisms.