In this report, researchers described a deep neural generative framework, the dynamic batching adversarial autoencoder (DB-AAE), which excels at denoising scRNA-seq datasets. DB-AAE directly captures optimal features from input data and enhances feature preservation, including cell type-specific gene expression patterns.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract, skeleton, and eyes. HLA-B27 is a major risk gene for SpA, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. One hypothesis is that HLA-B27 promotes SpA through misfolding-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress that in turn upregulates IL-23 expression via the transcription factor CHOP. In this study, the researchers knocked out CHOP expression in an animal model of HLA-B27-associated SpA. Despite reduced IL-23 production, gut inflammation did not improve, indicating that the gut disease did not occur as a result of ER stress-induced IL-23 production.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening cytokine storm syndrome caused by recessive, loss of function variants of genes in the pathway that controls the processing of cytolytic granule processing pathway genes. Heterozygous variants in these genes contribute to a secondary form of HLH (macrophage activation syndrome, MAS) that frequently develops in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). To evaluate the relationship between HLH gene variation and sJIA without MAS, HLH genes were sequenced and compared between 524 patients with sJIA and 2,924 control patients.

New medications help many people with inflammatory conditions and may ease severe COVID-19, but they carry risks.