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Lab on a Chip - New Genes Implicated in Rheumatoid Arthritis

New Genes Implicated in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Date Posted: Thursday, June 29, 2006

Researchers continue to search for genetic clues into rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory joint disease.

While its specific cause is not yet known, RA has been linked to an inherited susceptibility. Interestingly, despite its strong genetic component, RA’s occurrence among siblings seems to be random.

In the quest to identify disease-specific gene expression profiles in patients with RA, researchers at the University of Michigan Medical Center turned to an ideal population: genetically identical, disease-discordant twins.

The July issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism highlights the results of their genetic analysis.
Increasing evidence over the past several years indicates that B-lymphocytes play a central role in RA’s development.

In this study, microarray analysis was applied to lymphoblastoid B cell lines (LCLs) from 11 pairs of monozygotic twins, all with one healthy and one RA-affected twin.

A DNA technology, microarray can be used to not only compare gene expression in two different tissue samples, but to examine the expression of thousands of genes at once.

The researchers extracted complementary DNA from the cells of every twin, labelled samples with fluorescent dye to distinguish RA cells from disease-free cells, and hybridized each on a 20,000-gene chip.

Then, using immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction, they confirmed the expression of the significantly over-expressed genes in synovial tissues.

In addition, they compared gene expression in synovial tissue of the RA patients with gene expression in synovial tissue of patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

Between the disease-discordant twins, minor yet measurable differences were detected in the expression of 1,163 transcripts, representing 827 uniquely named genes.

Of this total, 3 genes were significantly over-expressed in the cells of RA patients relative to their healthy co-twins.

The significantly over-expressed gene was laeverin, a newly discovered enzyme that works to degrade proteins.

The second significantly over-expressed gene was 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11ß-HSD2), a steroid pathway enzyme linked to inflammation and bone erosion.

This gene was also found over-expressed in the synovial tissue of OA patients.

The third most significantly over-expressed gene was cysteine-rich, angiogenic inducer 61 (Cyr61), well-established for its role in the formation of new blood vessels.

“Our findings provide the first evidence that laeverin is abundantly expressed in synovial tissue,” notes the study’s leading author, Joseph Holoshitz, M.D. “11ß-HSD2 and Cyr61 have not previously been directly implicated in RA,” he adds.

Uncovering 3 genes with a clear abundance in RA, this study supports the promise of microarray analysis to not only provide further insights into the genetic components of this inflammatory disease, but also to help identify candidates for therapeutic intervention.

Further Information: http://www.med.umich.edu

This article on pain relief with Equal (Aspartame) was a real eye-opener. Please read with caution and review points of view concerning reported possible side effects of the use of Aspartame.

Q. I have arthritis in both my knees and fingers
and have no pain. Every morning I drink a cup of green tea with three
packets of Equal in it.

I know this works for me, for I have tried using other artificial
sweeteners. After five days, I started to have mild pain and stiffness
in both of my knees. Needless to say, I went right back to using Equal.
It took about a week to get back to not having any pain or stiffness in
my knees.

I don’t have diabetes, but my son-in-law does. He, too, uses Equal
to rid himself of pain that he gets in his feet. I can’t say that this
will work for everyone, but $3 for a 50-packet box is a small price to
pay for pain relief.

A. Aspartame (Equal) has been tested for arthritis
pain in a small placebo-controlled trial. It is nearly as effective as
aspirin but does not irritate the stomach. People who cannot tolerate
aspartame or prefer to avoid it might choose to try natural
anti-inflammatory agents such as ginger, curcumin, boswellia or
bromelain.

We include discussion of these treatments and many home remedies for
arthritis in our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis. Anyone who would
like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No.
10), stamped (63 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s
Pharmacy, No. AA-2, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It can also
be downloaded for $2 from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

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This article on pain relief with Equal (Aspartame) was a real eye-opener. Q. I have arthritis in both my knees and fingers and have no pain.Every morning I drink a cup of green tea with three packets of Equal in it. I know this works for me, for I …

Created using software by Elliott Back

Natural arthritis Medication to the Rescue! by: Wendy Owen No matter which type of arthritis you suffer from, be it osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis or any one of the myriad forms of this disease, you need a safe and …

Created using software by Elliott Back