Provide Immunologic Rationale for JAK-Directed Therapy in Rheumatic Disease

Join Dr. Claudia Rivera Salas, DNP, NP-C, a rheumatology nurse practitioner in East Lansing, Michigan, as she explores the immunologic rationale behind JAK-STAT pathway inhibition in rheumatic and inflammatory diseases.

The JAK-STAT pathway plays a crucial role in cytokine signaling and immune regulation. Dysregulation of this pathway is a key driver of chronic inflammation in autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). Beyond rheumatology, JAK inhibitors are also transforming the treatment landscape in dermatology and gastroenterology, with applications in atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, lupus, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

STAT proteins, such as STAT1, STAT3, STAT4, and STAT6, contribute to disease pathogenesis by influencing inflammatory processes in the gut, skin, and joints. By selectively inhibiting JAK signaling, JAK inhibitors offer targeted, disease-modifying potential across multiple specialties, providing a new approach to immune modulation.

JAK inhibitors continue to reshape the treatment paradigm in rheumatology, dermatology, and gastroenterology, offering precise immune modulation for chronic inflammatory diseases.

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