New Delhi, Sep 25 (NationPress) Recent discoveries by scientists indicate that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can begin its silent onset years prior to the appearance of any noticeable symptoms. This significant finding could lead to earlier treatment and preventative measures.

RA is a serious autoimmune condition characterized by painful inflammation and damage to the joints.

Research published in the journal Science Translational Medicine demonstrates that in the initial stages of RA, the immune system engages in an invisible autoimmune struggle.

This is not merely localized joint inflammation; rather, it reflects a systemic inflammatory response akin to that observed in individuals with active RA.

Mark Gillespie, assistant investigator at the Allen Institute in the US, commented, "Our study aims to highlight that rheumatoid arthritis initiates much earlier than previously recognized, enabling researchers to make informed choices regarding strategies to mitigate disease progression."

Throughout a seven-year investigation, researchers monitored various individuals with ACPA antibodies, recognized biomarkers for those at risk of developing RA. They also uncovered previously unidentified factors linked to disease onset, including widespread inflammation, dysfunction of immune cells, and cellular reprogramming.

The findings revealed significant abnormalities in various immune cell types among individuals at risk for RA. B cells, typically responsible for generating protective antibodies, exhibited a shift towards a pro-inflammatory state.

Moreover, T helper cells, especially a subset resembling Tfh17 cells, were found to be drastically elevated beyond normal levels.

Remarkably, even "naive" T cells—immune cells that have yet to face any threats—showed epigenetic modifications.

The researchers also detected monocytes, a type of white blood cell, in the bloodstream that were producing elevated levels of inflammatory molecules.

Crucially, these blood cells bore a striking resemblance to macrophages found in the inflamed joint tissues of RA patients, indicating that the disease process was already gearing up to target joints.

The study uncovers new early-warning indicators (biomarkers and immune signatures) that could assist healthcare providers in identifying at-risk individuals who are most likely to develop RA, facilitating more targeted surveillance and earlier intervention.

If detected in the early stages, RA could potentially be halted before it manifests—sparing patients years of suffering and disability.