# Small RNAs and risk of rheumatoid arthritis

> **NIH VA I01** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2022 · —

## Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting nearly
1% of Veterans. Early and aggressive treatment of RA improves likelihood of remission and
reduces disability. Therefore, biomarkers identifying patients with high likelihood of developing
disease could stratify individuals who would benefit from early interventions aimed at preventing
disease and reducing disability. Such biomarkers may also provide insight into disease
mechanisms.
 Our overarching goal is to determine the role of human and microbial sRNAs in the
development of RA. The rationale for the proposed research is that sRNAs are powerful gene
regulators and markers of disease. We have found that circulating human and microbial sRNAs
are altered in established RA patients compared to control subjects, are associated with disease
measures and can alter inflammatory cellular pathways.
 Building on preliminary data, we will define circulating human (Aim 1) and microbial (Aim
2) sRNAs that predict development of RA and change between preclinical and clinical RA in
discovery and validation cohorts and identify the function of predictive sRNAs. Aim 3 will
determine if microbiome alterations in new-onset untreated RA are reflected in alterations in
plasma microbial sRNAs.
 The proposed research is significant because it will help us to identify patients with high
likelihood of developing RA, enabling us to identify individuals who would benefit from early
interventions aimed at preventing disease and reducing disability. The proposal is innovative
because it has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of markers and mechanisms
underlying development of RA and our understanding of how the human microbiota can influence
immune function. The study is high impact because it could identify fundamental, targetable
mechanisms underlying developing RA and could lead to targeted sRNA therapeutics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10368663
- **Project number:** 1I01CX002356-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Michelle Jane Ormseth
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10368663

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10368663, Small RNAs and risk of rheumatoid arthritis (1I01CX002356-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10368663. Licensed CC0.

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