Researchers at Osaka University in Japan have made an important discovery about a class of cells involved in rheumatoid arthritis that could pave the way for new treatments.
The team has discovered a previously unknown type of osteoclast within affected joints affected that could one day provide a target for new therapies.
Arthritis is a common chronic conditionArthritis refers to a group of more than 100 chronic diseases characterized by inflammation in the joints that can eventually lead to irreparable damage and debilitating pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune form of the disease, where immune cells mistakenly target tissue that lines the joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. Over time, this can damage the joints, cartilage, and surrounding bone.
There is currently no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, and treatment approaches are limited to drugs to alleviate symptoms, supportive treatments such as physiotherapy, and, in some cases, surgery to correct joint problems.
Since these approaches only relieve symptoms or at best delay disease progression, scientists are researching the condition in efforts to find potential new treatment targets.
Two main types of cell contribute to disease progressionIn rheumatoid arthritis, two main types of cell contribute to the progression of the disease. Firstly, immune cells release inflammatory cytokines that aggravate tissue lining the joints. Secondly, specialized cells called osteoclasts secrete enzymes and acids that "dissolve" bone. In a healthy, non-disease state, osteoclasts remodel the bone, but in rheumatoid arthritis, their ability to breakdown bone is ramped up, which damages joints instead.
The team has discovered a previously unknown type of osteoclast within affected joints affected that could one day provide a target for new therapies.
Arthritis is a common chronic conditionArthritis refers to a group of more than 100 chronic diseases characterized by inflammation in the joints that can eventually lead to irreparable damage and debilitating pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune form of the disease, where immune cells mistakenly target tissue that lines the joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. Over time, this can damage the joints, cartilage, and surrounding bone.
There is currently no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, and treatment approaches are limited to drugs to alleviate symptoms, supportive treatments such as physiotherapy, and, in some cases, surgery to correct joint problems.
Since these approaches only relieve symptoms or at best delay disease progression, scientists are researching the condition in efforts to find potential new treatment targets.
Two main types of cell contribute to disease progressionIn rheumatoid arthritis, two main types of cell contribute to the progression of the disease. Firstly, immune cells release inflammatory cytokines that aggravate tissue lining the joints. Secondly, specialized cells called osteoclasts secrete enzymes and acids that "dissolve" bone. In a healthy, non-disease state, osteoclasts remodel the bone, but in rheumatoid arthritis, their ability to breakdown bone is ramped up, which damages joints instead.
