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BACKGROUNDAntibiotic-Refractory Lyme Arthritis (ARLA) involves a complex interplay of T cell responses targeting Borrelia burgdorferi antigens progressing toward autoantigens by epitope spreading. However, the precise molecular mechanisms driving the pathogenic T cell response in ARLA remain unclear. Our aim was to elucidate the molecular program of disease-specific Th cells.METHODSUsing flow cytometry, high-throughput T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, and scRNA-Seq of CD4+ Th cells isolated from the joints of patients with ARLA living in Europe, we aimed to infer antigen specificity through unbiased analysis of TCR repertoire patterns, identifying surrogate markers for disease-specific TCRs, and connecting TCR specificity to transcriptional patterns.RESULTSPD-1hiHLA-DR+CD4+ effector T cells were clonally expanded within the inflamed joints and persisted throughout disease course. Among these cells, we identified a distinct TCR-β motif restricted to HLA-DRB1*11 or *13 alleles. These alleles, being underrepresented in patients with ARLA living in North America, were unexpectedly prevalent in our European cohort. The identified TCR-β motif served as surrogate marker for a convergent TCR response specific to ARLA, distinguishing it from other rheumatic diseases. In the scRNA-Seq data set, the TCR-β motif particularly mapped to peripheral T helper (TPH) cells displaying signs of sustained proliferation, continuous TCR signaling, and expressing CXCL13 and IFN-γ.CONCLUSIONBy inferring disease-specific TCRs from synovial T cells we identified a convergent TCR response in the joints of patients with ARLA that continuously fueled the expansion of TPH cells expressing a pathogenic cytokine effector program. The identified TCRs will aid in uncovering the major antigen targets of the maladaptive immune response.FUNDINGSupported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) MO 2160/4-1; the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; Advanced Clinician Scientist-Program INTERACT; 01EO2108) embedded in the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) of the University Hospital Würzburg; the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF; Clinical Leave Program; TI07.001_007) and the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) Würzburg (Clinician Scientist Program, Z-2/CSP-30).

Bacterial arthritis and osteomyelitis are usually acute diseases, which in this way differ from the often insidious course of nonbacterial osteomyelitis; however, there is often an overlap both in less acute courses of bacterial illnesses and also in nonbacterial osteitis. The overlapping clinical phenomena can be explained by similar pathophysiological processes. In bacteria-related illnesses the identification of the pathogen and empirical or targeted anti-infectious treatment are prioritized, whereas no triggering agent is known for nonbacterial diseases. The diagnostics are based on the exclusion of differential diagnoses, clinical scores and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An activity-adapted anti-inflammatory treatment is indicated., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO), an autoinflammatory bone disease primarily affecting children, can cause pain, hyperostosis and fractures, affecting quality-of-life and psychomotor development. This study investigated CNO-associated variants in P2RX7, encoding for the ATP-dependent trans-membrane K + channel P2X7, and their effects on NLRP3 inflammasome assembly. Whole exome sequencing in two related transgenerational CNO patients, and target sequencing of P2RX7 in a large CNO cohort (N = 190) were conducted. Results were compared with publicly available datasets and regional controls (N = 1873). Findings were integrated with demographic and clinical data. Patient-derived monocytes and genetically modified THP-1 cells were used to investigate potassium flux, inflammasome assembly, pyroptosis, and cytokine release. Rare presumably damaging P2RX7 variants were identified in two related CNO patients. Targeted P2RX7 sequencing identified 62 CNO patients with rare variants (32.4%), 11 of which (5.8%) carried presumably damaging variants (MAF <1%, SIFT "deleterious", Polyphen "probably damaging", CADD >20). This compared to 83 of 1873 controls (4.4%), 36 with rare and presumably damaging variants (1.9%). Across the CNO cohort, rare variants unique to one (Median: 42 versus 3.7) or more (≤11 patients) participants were over-represented when compared to 190 randomly selected controls. Patients with rare damaging variants more frequently experienced gastrointestinal symptoms and lymphadenopathy while having less spinal, joint and skin involvement (psoriasis). Monocyte-derived macrophages from patients, and genetically modified THP-1-derived macrophages reconstituted with CNO-associated P2RX7 variants exhibited altered potassium flux, inflammasome assembly, IL-1β and IL-18 release, and pyroptosis. Damaging P2RX7 variants occur in a small subset of CNO patients, and rare P2RX7 variants may represent a CNO risk factor. Observations argue for inflammasome inhibition and/or cytokine blockade and may allow future patient stratification and individualized care., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is an autoinflammatory bone disorder that predominantly affects children and young people. The pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of CNO remain poorly understood, and diagnostic criteria and biomarkers are lacking. As a result, treatment is empiric and follows personal experience, case series and expert consensus plans., Methods: A survey was designed to gain insight on clinician and patient experiences of diagnosing and treating CNO and to collate opinions on research priorities. A version containing 24 questions was circulated among international expert clinicians and clinical academics (27 contacted, 21 responses). An equivalent questionnaire containing 20 questions was shared to explore the experience and priorities of CNO patients and family members (93 responses)., Results: Responses were used to select topics for four moderated roundtable discussions at the "International Conference on CNO and autoinflammatory bone disease" (Liverpool, United Kingdom, May 25-26 th , 2022). The group identified deciphering the pathophysiology of CNO to be the highest priority, followed by clinical trials, necessary outcome measures and classification criteria. Surprisingly, mental wellbeing scored behind these items., Conclusions: Agreement exists among clinicians, academics, patients and families that deciphering the pathophysiology of CNO is of highest priority to inform clinical trials that will allow for the approval of medications for the treatment of CNO by regulatory agencies., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is an autoinflammatory bone disease that primarily affects children and adolescents. CNO is associated with pain, bone swelling, deformity, and fractures. Its pathophysiology is characterized by increased inflammasome assembly and imbalanced expression of cytokines. Treatment is currently based on personal experience, case series and resulting expert recommendations. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have not been initiated because of the rarity of CNO, expired patent protection of some medications, and the absence of agreed outcome measures. An international group of fourteen CNO experts and two patient/parent representatives was assembled to generate consensus to inform and conduct future RCTs. The exercise delivered consensus inclusion and exclusion criteria, patent protected (excludes TNF inhibitors) treatments of immediate interest (biological DMARDs targeting IL-1 and IL-17), primary (improvement of pain; physician global assessment) and secondary endpoints (improved MRI; improved PedCNO score which includes physician and patient global scores) for future RCTs in CNO., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest In the past, CMH received research funding from Novartis for research in psoriasis (secukinumab programme, 2017–2019). In the past 5 years, CMH received speaker's honoraria from Roche, and was involved in advisory boards hosted by Novartis and Cancer Research UK (CRUK). CMH, PJF, HJG, and YZ participated in advisory boards on the use of canakinumab in inflammatory bone disease hosted by Novartis. RML is a consultant to Novartis and SOBI., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Immune-mediated cytopenias (AIC) are challenging complications following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). While broad-acting immunosuppressive agents like corticosteroids are often standard of care, several novel therapies which target specific immunological pathways have recently been developed and provide hope for patients with steroid-refractory courses and may limit long-term toxicity. The successful off-label use of the plasma cell depleting anti-CD38 antibody daratumumab was published in several case reports, suggesting efficacy, i.e., in patients with antibody-mediated AIC refractory to previous B cell depletion. We want to share our experience with two children, whom we treated with daratumumab, including one fatal course with uncontrolled disease. Given the absence of substantial data from HSCT registries or prospective trials, we furthermore provide a critical review of the literature on daratumumab treatment of AIC., Case Presentations: Patient 1 (P1), an 11-year-old girl with lipopolysaccharide-responsive and beige-like anchor protein (LRBA) deficiency who developed immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (AIT) from day +58 after HSCT, showed a complete response to daratumumab after the fourth of six total daratumumab doses. She remains transfusion independent for over a year of follow-up. Previously, her thrombocytopenia was refractory to corticosteroids, rituximab, intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), eltrombopag, cyclosporine A, and sirolimus. Patient 2 (P2), a 6-year-old boy with CD40 ligand (CD40L) deficiency, developed both AIT and hemolytic anemia (AIHA) after HSCT on days +58 and +83, respectively, and was also treated with daratumumab after being previously refractory to prednisolone, rituximab, and IVIG. Yet, he did neither respond to daratumumab nor the concomitantly administered methyprednisolone pulse, plasmapheresis, and eculizumab and succumbed due to refractory disease., Conclusion: Reviewing the literature on the use of daratumumab for refractory AIC post-HSCT, we consider daratumumab a promising agent for this life-threatening disorder: ten of the twelve patients reached transfusion independency in the literature. However, treatment failures are likely to be underreported. Thus, controlled trials are needed to explore the safety and efficacy of daratumumab in this rare post-HSCT complication.

Purpose of Review: To describe in detail the clinical synopsis and pathophysiology of chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis and SAPHO syndrome., Recent Findings: Chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) has been identified as a disease entity for almost 50 years. This inflammatory bone disorder is characterized by osteolytic as well as hyperostotic/osteosclerotic lesions. It is chronic in nature, but it can present with episodic flairs and phases of remission, which have led to the denomination "chronic recurrent osteomyelitis", with its severe multifocal form "chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis" (CRMO). For almost three decades, an infectious aetiology had been considered, since especially Propionibacterium acnes had been isolated from bone lesions of individual patients. However, this concept has been challenged since long-term antibiotic therapy did not alter the course of disease and modern microbiological techniques (including PCR) failed to confirm bone infection as an underlying cause. Over recent years, a profound dysregulation of cytokine expression profiles has been demonstrated in innate immune cells of CNO patients. A hallmark of monocytes from CNO patients is the failure to produce immune regulatory cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-19, which have been linked with genetic and epigenetic alterations. Subsequently, a significant upregulation of pro-inflammatory, NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), has been demonstrated. The current knowledge on CNO, the underlying molecular pathophysiology, and modern imaging strategies are summarized; differential diagnoses, treatment options, outcome measures, as well as quality of life studies are discussed.

Objectives: Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO), the most severe form of chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO), is an autoinflammatory bone disorder. In the absence of diagnostic criteria or biomarkers, CNO/CRMO remains a diagnosis of exclusion. The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers for diagnosing multifocal disease (CRMO)., Study Design: Sera from 71 pediatric CRMO patients, 11 patients with osteoarticular infections, 62 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), 7 patients with para-infectious or reactive arthritis, and 43 patients with acute leukemia or lymphoma, as well as 59 healthy individuals were collected. Multiplex analysis of 18 inflammation- and/or bone remodeling-associated serum proteins was performed. Statistical analysis included univariate ANOVA, discriminant analysis, univariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and logistic regression analyses., Results: For 14 of 18 blood serum proteins, significant differences were determined between CRMO patients, at least one alternative diagnosis, or healthy controls. Multi-component discriminant analysis delivered five biomarkers (IL-6, CCL11/eotaxin, CCL5/RANTES, collagen Iα, sIL-2R) for the diagnosis of CRMO. ROC analysis allowed further reduction to a core set of 2 biomarkers (CCL11/eotaxin, IL-6) that are sufficient to discern between CRMO, healthy controls, and alternative diagnoses., Conclusion: Serum biomarkers CCL11/eotaxin and IL-6 differentiate between patients with CRMO, healthy controls, and alternative diagnoses (leukemia and lymphoma, osteoarticular infections, para-infectious arthritis, and JIA). Easily accessible biomarkers may aid in diagnosing CRMO. Further studies testing biomarkers in larger unrelated cohorts are warranted.

Purpose of Review: Chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) with its most severe form chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is an autoinflammatory bone disorder. We summarize the clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, most recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology, and available treatment options and outcomes in CNO/CRMO., Recent Findings: Though the exact molecular pathophysiology of CNO/CRMO remains somewhat elusive, it appears likely that variable defects in the TLR4/MAPK/inflammasome signaling cascade result in an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expressions in monocytes from CNO/CRMO patients. In this context, we present previously unpublished data on cytokine and chemokine expression in monocytes and tissues. CNO/CRMO is an autoinflammatory bone disorder resulting from imbalanced cytokine expression from innate immune cells. Though the exact molecular pathophysiology remains unclear, variable molecular defects appear to result in inflammasome activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in monocytes from CNO/CRMO patients. Recent advances suggest signaling pathways and single molecules as biomarkers for CNO/CRMO as well as future treatment targets.

Aims: To investigate the outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) compared with laser photocoagulation in type I retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)., Methods: Case records of 54 consecutive very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with type I ROP (posterior ROP, n=33; peripheral zone II, n=21) who were treated either with IVB (n=37) or laser photocoagulation (n=17) between 2011 and 2015 were retrospectively evaluated., Results: Patients with posterior ROP displayed significantly faster regression of active ROP within 12 days (range 9-15 days) if treated with IVB compared with laser photocoagulation, where active ROP regressed within 57 days (range 28-63 days) (p>0.001). No difference was observed in peripheral zone II.Five of seven patients (12%) who developed a recurrence in both eyes after IVB required additional laser photocoagulation within a mean of 12.7 weeks (11.3-15.6 weeks) after the previous treatment. After laser photocoagulation one patient with posterior ROP developed macular dragging and another patient developed a temporary exudative retinal detachment in both eyes. 12 months after treatment the spherical equivalent was not statistically significant different between IVB and laser photocoagulation in posterior ROP patients. However, IVB lead to a significant lower spherical equivalent in infants with posterior ROP (+0.37 dioptres, range -0.5 to +1.88 dioptres) compared with peripheral zone II (+3.0 dioptres range +2.0 to +4.0 dioptres, p<0.001)., Conclusions: IVB leads to faster regression of active ROP in infants with posterior ROP compared with laser photocoagulation. Spherical equivalent after 12 months was comparable in those treated with IVB and laser photocoagulation, but it was significantly lower in posterior ROP than in peripheral zone II., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is an autoinflammatory bone disorder, covering a clinical spectrum with asymptomatic inflammation of single bones at the one end, and chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) at the other end. The exact molecular pathophysiology of CNO remains largely unknown. Provided familial clusters and the association with inflammatory disorders of the skin and intestine suggest a genetic predisposition. Recently, profound dysregulation of cytokine responses was demonstrated in CRMO. Failure to produce antiinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-19 contributes to activation of inflammasomes and subsequent IL-1β release. In IL-10-deficient and in CNO-prone chronic multifocal osteomyelitis mice, IL-1β was linked to bone inflammation. Further, alterations to the gut microbiome were suggested in contributing to IL-1β release from innate immune cells in mice, offering an interesting target in the search for molecular mechanisms in CNO. Here, we summarize clinical presentation and treatment options in CNO/CRMO, current pathophysiological concepts, available mouse models, and promising future scientific directions.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO), the most severe form of chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis, is an autoinflammatory bone disorder. A timely diagnosis and treatment initiation is complicated by the absence of widely accepted diagnostic criteria and an incomplete pathophysiological understanding. The aim of this study was to determine biomarkers for the diagnosis and follow-up of CRMO. Serum of 56 CRMO patients was collected at the time of diagnosis. As controls, sera from treatment-naïve age-matched patients with Crohn's disease (N = 62) or JIA (N = 28) as well as healthy individuals (N = 62) were collected. Multiplex analysis of 25 inflammation markers was performed. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, canonical discriminant analysis, and mixed model variance analysis. Mostly monocyte-derived serum proteins were detectable and differed significantly between groups: IL-1RA, IL-2R, IL-6, IL-12, eotaxin, MCP-1, MIP-1b, RANTES. Multicomponent discriminant analysis allowed for the definition of algorithms differentiating between CRMO, Crohn's disease, and healthy controls. Persistently high levels of MCP-1, IL-12, sIL-2R correlated with incomplete remission in follow-up samples from CRMO patients. Discrimination algorithms allow differentiation between patients with CRMO or Crohn's disease, and healthy individuals. IL-12, MCP-1, and sIL-2R can act as markers for treatment response. Though confirmation of our findings in larger multiethnical cohorts is warranted, they may prove valuable to differentiate between otherwise healthy individuals or Crohn's disease patients with "bone pain" and CRMO patients. The elevation of mainly monocyte-derived pro-inflammatory serum proteins supports the hypothesis of pro-inflammatory monocyte/macrophages driving inflammation in CRMO.

Objectives: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is considered a complex genetic autoimmune disease. We investigated the association of genetic variants previously implicated in JIA, autoimmunity and/or immunoregulation, with susceptibility to JIA., Methods: A genetic association study was performed in 639 JIA patients and 1613 healthy controls of northwest European descent. Ninety-three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were genotyped in a candidate gene approach. Results of the entire JIA patient group (all subtypes) were compared with results obtained, alternatively, with a clinically homogeneous patient group including only oligoarticular and rheumatoid factor (RF) negative polyarticular JIA patients (n=493). Meta-analyses were performed for all SNPs that have been typed in other Caucasian JIA cohorts before., Results: SNPs in or near PTPN22, VTCN1, the IL2-IL21 region, ANKRD55 and TNFA were confirmed to be associated with JIA (p<0.05), strengthening the evidence for involvement of these genes in JIA. In the majority of these replicated SNPs, effect sizes were larger when analysing a homogeneous patient cohort than when analysing all subtypes. We identified two novel associations with oligoarticular and RF-negative polyarticular JIA: CD226 rs763361 (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.51, p=0.0006) and CD28 rs1980422 (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.55, p=0.008). Meta-analyses including reported studies confirmed the association of both SNPs with susceptibility to JIA (OR 1.16, p=0.001 and OR 1.18, p=0.001, for rs763361 and rs1980422, respectively)., Conclusions: The CD226 gene has been identified as novel association with JIA, and a SNP near CD28 as a suggestive association. Both genes are probable candidate risk factors, since they are involved in costimulation of T cells., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/)

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is characterized by reduced activation of protein kinases ERK1 and 2 in monocytes resulting in impaired IL-10 expression. IL10 and its homologs IL19 and IL20 are organized in the IL10 cluster on chromosome 1q32. IL-10 and IL-19 are immune-regulatory cytokines, while IL-20 acts in a pro-inflammatory manner. The NLRP3 inflammasome, a multi-protein complex forming in response to innate stimuli, mediates IL-1β cleavage and release. Here, we investigated IL-10-related cytokine expression in CRMO monocytes, underlying molecular events, and effects on inflammatory responses. We observed reduced anti-inflammatory IL-10 and IL-19 expression, and enhanced IL-20 expression in CRMO monocytes. Reduced IL-10 and IL-19 expression was associated with impaired Sp-1 recruitment to regulatory regions, contributing to NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which may induce inflammatory bone-loss. Our findings underscore the importance of balanced receptor-, cell-, and tissue-specific cytokine expression for immune homeostasis, providing additional arguments for cytokine blocking strategies in CRMO., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Evolving inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a matter of interest in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and might be associated with JIA therapy., Methods: Data from the German biologics registry (Biologika in der Kinderrheumatologie; BiKeR) from 2001 to 2013 were analyzed., Results: There were 3071 patients with 8389 patient-years (PY) of observation followed. IBD was diagnosed in 11 patients, 8 with Crohn disease and 3 with ulcerative colitis. IBD incidence in patients with JIA was 1.31/1000 PY and higher than published IBD incidences in pediatric populations. Compared with the total BiKeR cohort, patients with IBD more commonly had enthesitis-related arthritis, extended oligoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and also rheumatoid factor (RF)-negative polyarthritis. No IBD occurred in patients with systemic JIA or RF-positive polyarthritis. In patients treated with methotrexate (MTX), the IBD incidence was significantly lower compared with patients not treated with MTX. Etanercept (ETN) monotherapy, but not the combination of ETN and MTX, was associated with an increased incidence of IBD., Conclusion: Incidence of IBD in patients with JIA is higher than in the population. MTX turned out to be protective, even in combination with ETN.

Background: Severe infantile vitamin B12 deficiency is occasionally reported in developed countries due to maternal nutritional deficiency. The clinical manifestation comprises megaloblastic anemia and neurodevelopmental delay culminating in demyelination and brain atrophy. Few case reports have documented manifestation of West syndrome., Patient: We report the 8-year long-term follow-up on a 6-month-old exclusively breast-fed girl with serious vitamin B12 deficiency secondary to undiagnosed maternal pernicious anemia. MRI revealed cerebral atrophy and delayed myelination. Strikingly, initial vitamin B12-mediated improvement of neurological and hematological findings was followed by temporary manifestation of infantile spasms requiring anticonvulsive therapy., Results: Seizures soon dissolved, EEG and MRI scan normalized and developmental catch-up occurred. At the age of 8 years, the girl is symptom-free and visits primary school illustrating remarkable recovery of severe neurodevelopmental delay and symptomatic West syndrome., Conclusion: Infantile vitamin B12 deficiency has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of mental retardation and infantile spasms, especially if maternal nutritional deficiency might be suspected. Early treatment seems to be crucial for the prevention of irreversible brain damage., (Copyright © 2014 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare monogenetic and multisystemic disease with involvement of different organs, including bone, muscle, kidney, lung, gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system. The exact metabolic mechanisms of the effects of TNAP deficiency in different tissues are not understood in detail. There is no approved specific treatment for HPP; therefore symptomatic treatment in order to improve the clinical features is of major interest. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is a relatively new type of treatment based on the principle of administering a medical treatment replacing a defective or absent enzyme. Recently ERT with a bone targeted recombinant human TNAP molecule has been reported to be efficient in ten severely affected patients and improved survival of life threatening forms. These results are very promising especially with regard to the skeletal phenotype but it is unclear whether ERT also has beneficial effects for craniosynostosis and in other affected tissues in HPP such as brain and kidney. Long-term data are not yet available and further systematic clinical trials are needed. It is also necessary to establish therapeutic approaches to help patients who are affected by less severe forms of HPP but also suffer from a significant reduction in quality of life. Further basic research on TNAP function and role in different tissues and on its physiological substrates is critical to gain a better insight in the pathogenesis in HPP. This and further experiences in new therapeutic strategies may improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients with all forms of HPP.

Objective: The course of disease in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is unpredictable with episodes of activity and remission. In order to identify predictive factors, 93 SNPs, JIA subtype, age at onset and ANA status were studied in relation to disease course., Methods: Genetic and clinical parameters were analysed in a cohort of 272 Caucasian patients with persistent oligoarthritis (n=129), extended oligoarthritis (n=57) and rheumatoid factor negative polyarthritis (n=86). Categories of disease course (remitting (n=65), intermediate (n=96) and unremitting (n=111)) were designed based on the cumulative time spent in active disease in the first 2 years., Results: Univariate analysis revealed association of the course of disease with JIA subtype (p=5.7*10(-5)) and three SNPs; VTCN1 rs10 923 223 (p=4.4*10(-5)), VTCN1 rs12 046 117 (p=0.017) and CDK6 rs42 041 (p=0.038). In a subsequent multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis, VTCN1 rs10 923 223 (OR 0.41, 95%-CI 0.26 to 0.63) and JIA subtype (OR 3.8, 95%-CI 2.0 to 7.2; OR 2.5, 95%-CI 1.4 to 4.2, for extended oligoarthritis and RF-negative polyarthritis vs persistent oligoarthritis, respectively) were the strongest independent factors for course of disease., Conclusions: This study provides evidence that VTCN1, encoding B7-H4, is associated with course of disease in selected subtypes of JIA. VTCN1 might be useful in predicting the course of disease.

Sterile bone inflammation is the hallmark of autoinflammatory bone disorders, including chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) with its most severe form chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO). Autoinflammatory osteopathies are the result of a dysregulated innate immune system, resulting in immune cell infiltration of the bone and subsequent osteoclast differentiation and activation. Interestingly, autoinflammatory bone disorders are associated with inflammation of the skin and/or the intestine. In several monogenic autoinflammatory bone disorders mutations in disease-causing genes have been reported. However, regardless of recent developments, the molecular pathogenesis of CNO/CRMO remains unclear.Here, we discuss the clinical presentation and molecular pathophysiology of human autoinflammatory osteopathies and animal models with special focus on CNO/CRMO. Treatment options in monogenic autoinflammatory bone disorders and CRMO will be illustrated.

Sporadic chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is the most common auto-inflammatory bone disorder. The clinical picture is highly variable ranging from nonsymptomatic monofocal lesions to chronic recurrent multifocal disease. Symptoms include pain, local swelling and warmth in the absence or presence of fever. A subset of CNO patients exhibits additional symptoms of psoriatic skin involvement, palmoplantar pustulosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Novel insights into the pathogenesis of CNO link the failure to produce IL-10 and the resulting imbalance toward pro-inflammatory IL-6 and TNF-α with disease expression. Treatment is empiric and includes NSAIDs, corticosteroids, sulfasalazine, methotrexate, TNF inhibitors and bisphosphonates. Laboratory studies and clinical trials are warranted to: establish biomarkers that predict flares and clinical outcomes, identify patients that require additional treatment on top of NSAIDs, establish evidence-based treatment regimens, allow a risk-benefit assessment for the available therapeutic strategies, and identify novel therapeutic targets.