Rheumatoid Arthritis Could Be Treated with Gene Therapy

Gene therapy could offer a breakthrough in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The healthy cells of patients in a German study were injected into joints inflamed by the condition to help them heal.

The success of that process has now paved the way for further, bigger studies that might finally provide a breakthrough in treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and potentially even a cure.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system turns on itself. It causes inflammation in the joints, typically the ankles, knees, wrists and elbows but also affecting the neck and shoulders, too. The condition is a debilitating one, which is treated by a combination of anti-inflammatory medication and over-the-counter pain relief.

Gene therapy involves modifying the genes inside cells to repair a genetic defect or to trigger the production of proteins that can stop the disease’s progression. The first gene therapy was pioneered in 1990 and advances in the technique have offered hope to sufferers of many conditions.

The German research into rheumatoid arthritis was carried out in 1997 and 1998 in Dusseldorf and its results published in the journal Human Gene Therapy. The original study involved six patients but eventually only two female patients, both aged under 75 and suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, took part in the gene transfer.

The medics injected genetically modified cells that had been taken from each patient’s own body into a joint affected by the disease to stimulate production of the protein human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. This works to stop cartilage breaking down and becoming inflamed. Over time the injected cells keep working to reduce inflammation and alleviate the joint pain, with the patients confirming they had reduced pain and swelling four weeks after the injection.

The results of the study demonstrate that gene therapy can successfully treat and offer relief from the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, providing great hope for those suffering from the debilitating disease.