Can HLA-G predict disease course in rheumatoid arthritis patients?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains a major clinical problem with many patients having persistent systemic inflammatory disease resulting in progressive erosive joint damage and high levels of disability. The goal of RA therapy has shifted to initiate treatment early and aggressively to achieve remission or low disease activity as quickly as possible. To achieve this 'treat-to-target' concept it is necessary to identify new biomarkers for disease progression and treatment follow-up and of new therapeutic targets. The focus of this review is to up-date the scientific knowledge on the expression of HLA-G molecules in RA and the possible implication in the future management of the disease.