Gene Therapy Treatments Show Great Advantage in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that develops in the body’s immune system for unknown reasons. This turns the body against itself causing the joints to become swollen, inflamed and eventually destroying the cartilage causing minimal to no function in the joints. There is no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis leaving 2 million individuals in US alone with little option on living a full life.
A study originally conceived for genetic diseases like Cystic Fibrosis and Hemophilia has been proven to help patients who currently suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis. Researchers have found that by using gene therapy they can drastically decrease the pain and swelling of an Rheumatoid Arthritis patient within 4 weeks.
Gene therapy is achieved by implanting a normal gene into the joint which then compensates for the defected gene in the patient. This defected gene consists of a protein named Interleukin-1, which plays an important role in the body’s inflammatory response system to prevent infection. According to the principal investigator Dr. Christopher Evans, PhD, Director of the Center for Advance Orthopaedic Studies at BIDMC , “ This study has helped extend gene therapy research to nongenetic, nonlethal diseases.” In conclusion, Arthritis is a good target for this kind of treatment because the joint is a closed space into which the gene can be injected, causing the normal gene to act like a little factory in the joint cavity preventing any further inflammation or destruction.
References:
http://www.physorg.com/news152205545.html
http://www.harvardscience.harvard.edu/medicine-health/articles/gene-therapy-demonstrates-benefit-patients-with-rheumatoid-arthritis
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-01/bidm-gtd012609.php
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090126153941.htm
Picture: www.med.mun.ca/.../ken/rheumatoid_arthritis2.htm
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