JoVE | Peer Reviewed Scientific Video Journal

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

From Blood to Tissue: Current Clinical and Research Methods in Rheumatology and Autoimmunity

Guest Editor

Runci Wang

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Renji Hospital

<p>Dr. Runci Wang MD, PhD, LLB is a faculty member of the Department of Rheumatology in Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. She received her medical degree from West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University after completing a joint PhD. training program at the University of Pennsylvania and a clinical training in Medicine/Rheumatology in China. She pursued postdoctoral trainings investigating immunotherapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on various disease models with Prof. Songtao Shi at UPenn, the role T cells in target organs of lupus and checkpoint-inhibitor associated autoimmunity with Prof. Deepak Rao at Harvard, and mechanisms of autoimmunity with Prof. Nan Shen in Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology. Through unique mechanisms induced autoimmunity such as checkpoint-inhibitors and rare mutations, she dissects complex immune phenomenon in patients and animal models to gain insights into emerging challenges in autoimmunity.</p>

Collection Overview

Autoimmunity indicates a breach of immune self-tolerance reflected by the evidence of autoreactivity and clinical presentation of rheumatic diseases. Prompt recognition and management of rheumatic diseases remain a clinical and research challenge. Investigating autoimmune rheumatic disorders in human and animal models can facilitate diagnosis, inform therapeutic targets, and improve our understanding of immune dysregulations in conditions such as infections, cancer, and allergies.

Evaluating cellular and molecular signatures in blood and histopathological features in tissue is crucial for establishing autoimmunity and organ damage in rheumatic diseases. This Methods Collection compiles current methods and technological advances used by experts in clinical and research settings. These include, but are not limited to, the detection of autoantibodies and inflammatory mediators, imaging and biopsy of target organs such as skin, muscle, joint, and kidney, and the development of organoids and animal models.