Editorial from Editor-in-Chief

This has been an interesting year in rheumatology. After about 50 years, we have a drug approved for the treatment of SLE. There are several investigational molecules currently in advanced clinical trials in several conditions, and our group completed the biggest controlled trial in Myositis ever. In this issue, we take a step back to understand the mechanisms of several signaling pathways such as NF-kB, the RAS system, IL-6 and the MAP kinases and their contribution to the development of autoimmune diseases. A clear understanding of the role that these pathways play in the development of autoimmune diseases will help rheumatologists understand and use the therapeutic agents that are being developed to target abnormalities in these pathways. It has been our aim to provide a forum for investigators to air their unique insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of autoimmune disease. In this context, it is my pleasure to present the paper on Ankylosing spondylitis, HLA B27 and Popper sequences. In this thought provoking piece, Dr. Ebringer and colleagues postulate that Klebsiella microbes are causative of Ankylosing Spondylitis and support their theory with Popperian principles. We would love to hear your thoughts about this and the other articles in the current issue as well as suggestions for future topics.