This Focus examines the immunological processes in rheumatoid arthritis, including the contributions of B cells and the autoantibody response, synovial tissue macrophages, cellular metabolic adaptations and immune system–fibroblast–bone interactions.

This Focus examines the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic and adverse effects of various commonly used non-biologic drugs in rheumatology, as well as future prospects in this field.

The five specially commissioned Reviews and two commentaries in this Focus on Myositis, written by leading experts, examine the potential pathogenic mechanisms underlying these diseases, the challenges in classifying and managing patients with myositis, and the tools available to evaluate treatment outcomes.

The articles in this focus issue provide a general introduction to immunometabolism as well as a closer look at metabolite (dys)regulation in the setting of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and osteoarthritis, and a forward-looking discussion of the possibility of targeting metabolic processes therapeutically.

In this Focus issue, the cytokine pathways at work in rheumatic diseases are explored, with an emphasis on the role of TNF, IL-1, GM-CSF, chemokines and type I and II cytokines in supporting inflammation and tissue destruction.

November 2015 marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of Nature Reviews Rheumatology, originally published under the title ofNature Clinical Practice Rheumatology. To celebrate this milestone, we have commissioned a collection of articles to summarize the major advances in rheumatology over the past decade. These articles, together with a special infographic, provide an authoritative snapshot of rheumatology in 2015 and how the field might progress over the next 10 years.

Research into musculoskeletal biology is increasingly being translated into clinically useful applications. A number of promising approaches to the repair of cartilage, bone, tendons, skeletal muscle, intervertebral disc, meniscus and ligaments are under investigation or already available for use in the clinic. The articles in this Focus issue on musculoskeletal biology and bioengineering highlight progress and promise in the field.

The five specially commissioned Reviews and one Perspectives article in this Focus issue on vasculitis outline the latest research in this field, covering vasculature development, the pathogenesis of vasculitis highlighting the role of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) and eosinophils, current and emerging techniques for ANCA detection, clinical approaches to treat patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, and issues relating to the design of clinical trials in this heterogeneous group of uncommon disorders. The Reviews in this Focus on vasculitis have been made freely available online for 6 months thanks to support from Genentech, a member of the Roche group.

Late twentieth century progress in DMARD therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been complemented in this millennium by the advent of targeted biologic therapy and novel small-molecule drugs. Amid this seeming progress, however, results for individual patients are often disappointing. These five specially commissioned Reviews and one News & Views article, written by key opinion leaders in research and clinical practice, summarize emerging insights into the underlying basis of RA, how best to use existing therapies, new treatment targets and progress in targeting them, and how to gain maximum benefit from the opportunities afforded by clinical trials of new agents.

This bone research Focus issue contains five specially commissioned articles that outline the latest developments in the field of bone research in the context of rheumatic diseases. Topics covered include advances in our understanding of how bone homeostasis becomes unbalanced in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis, the mechanisms of action of glucocorticoids in RA, and the interplay between the immune system and the musculoskeletal system, as well as insights into the endocrinology of bone. Together, these advances will lead to the development of new and improved therapeutic approaches for protecting and rebuilding bone.

The six specially commissioned Reviews and two News & Views articles in this Focus issue on spondyloarthritis (SpA) outline the latest research developments in both adult and juvenile SpA, and how these translate into clinical practice. New approaches and referral strategies for early diagnosis are discussed, alongside accurate disease classification, therapeutic developments, insights into extra-articular manifestations of SpA, and advances in our understanding of the genetics and pathophysiology of SpA.

This Focus issue on osteoarthritis includes a series of specially commissioned Reviews from leading researchers in the field looking at disease pathogenesis in terms of cytokines, subchondral bone, cartilage matrix, and muscle strength and proprioception, with the hope of clarifying what the key processes are; in addition, Reviews focusing on the prospects for disease-modifying therapies for osteoarthritis, and on the genetic epidemiology of this disease are included.