American scientists are developing a gene therapy for arthrosis that stops the progression of the disease and relieves joint pain.

Arthrosis is a multifactorial degenerative joint disease that is difficult to treat.

Today, hundreds of millions of people worldwide suffer from arthrosis, and these people have to rely on symptomatic treatment with serious side effects every day..

Arthroplasty may become the end point of this difficult path.

But researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are working on a gene therapy for arthrosis that will focus both on controlling the symptoms of the disease, as well as modifying the pathological processes in the joint..

The new therapy will eliminate the usual side effects of steroids and NSAIDs.

We know from previous research that the interleukin-1 pathway plays an important role in the inflammatory process and serves as an interesting target in osteoarthritis.. However, the introduction of interleukin-1 antagonists was recognized as unpromising, since the drugs are quickly destroyed in the body..

To solve the problem with imperfect proteins-antagonists of interleukin-1 receptors (IL-1Ra), American researchers began to develop gene therapy with the so-called adenoviral vector.

Its essence is that the viral vector (carrier) delivers a special DNA fragment into the cells, modifying the patient's genome and suppressing the expression of IL-1Ra.

Thus, a person no longer needs to take medications - the body adjusts in the right way and heals itself, if I may say so..

“Today, to control arthrosis requires regular administration of medicinal substances.. Gene therapy allows us to eliminate the need for regular injections and pills, "

Gene therapy research for osteoarthritis is encouraging.

An experimental gene therapy drug is injected directly into the joint to provide sustained and regulated expression of therapeutic proteins in that particular joint.

“This approach avoids unwanted effects from other organs.. We conducted preclinical trials in laboratory mice and were convinced of a significant relief of symptoms of the disease, as well as the ability to preserve cartilage tissue in post-traumatic arthrosis, ”says Lee..

Based on encouraging preclinical findings, Professor Lee's group founded GeneQuine and acquired full rights to the technology used in experimental therapy..

From rodents, the authors moved to large objects, testing the technology on horses with osteoarthritis. Here again, therapy has been shown to relieve symptoms, improve wrist mobility, and preserve cartilage.. Since the equine carpal joint is similar in size and structure to the human knee, this provides a basis for the preparation of clinical trials..

If gene therapy really slows down the progression of osteoarthritis, this is a fateful moment for hundreds of millions of patients.. They will no longer depend on the daily intake of NSAIDs, and many will be able to avoid joint arthroplasty..

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