Rheumatoid arthritis and the pharmaceutical industry

Genes and gene therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

The rheumatoid joint has a great advantage in terms of the practicality of gene therapy – it is an enclosed space and genes can be targeted by direct injection. The goal would be to introduce genes that result in the production of beneficial anti-inflammatory molecules such as IL-4, IL-10, IL-1 receptors or compounds which block tumour necrosis factor.

The techniques necessary for gene therapy are already in development. There is now a national repository of genetic material funded and owned by the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council for Research with the aim of collecting and documenting cell lines and DNA from families with rheumatic diseases. This is made available to researchers carrying out genetic studies. There have been encouraging preliminary results from genetic research efforts and feasibility studies for gene therapy in people with RA have started; the gene for an IL-1 receptor blocker has already been injected into human knuckle joints. The study began in the USA in July 1996 and the outcome is keenly awaited.

Chiroscience and Zeneca are studying genes which may be involved in the illness. Chiroscience is conducting an extensive analysis of the DNA from people with RA to search for genes which increase their susceptibility to it. Zeneca is aiming to identify genes which are involved in the early stages of several human disease, with an initial focus on osteoarthritis and RA. It is hoped that an understanding of the function of genes located in this way will lead to new approaches in medicines research.