Keratoconus (KC) is a progressive corneal ecstasia characterized by thinning and weakening
of the cornea that leads to a cone-like appearance, scarring, and decreased vision. …

Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, encompasses a group of idiopathic sclerotic
skin diseases. The spectrum ranges from relatively mild phenotypes, which generally …

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease of unclear aetiology. A multitude
of genetic studies, ranging from candidate-gene studies to genome-wide association studies…

Objective To evaluate the expression of Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) 3 and 7 in synovium and
to study potential differences in the maturation and cytokine production mediated by TLR‐2, …

To identify new genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis, we conducted a genome-wide
association study meta-analysis of 5,539 autoantibody-positive individuals with rheumatoid …

Background: Tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) neutralising antibody constructs are
increasingly being used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objective: To determine potential …

BACKGROUND: Polarization of macrophages by specific micro-environmental conditions
impacts upon their function following subsequent activation. This study aimed to systematically …

TLRs may contribute to the progression of rheumatoid arthritis through recognition of microbial
or host-derived ligands found in arthritic joints. Here, we show that TLR2 and TLR4, but …

Background Plasmacytoid dendritic cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of
systemic sclerosis through mechanisms beyond the previously suggested production of type I …

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and
internal organs that leads to profound disability and premature death. To identify new SSc …