Gene therapy and rheumatoid arthritis

There has been talk of gene therapy recently (see ADA-SCID) and it continues to be talked about. There is no longer a scientific journal that does not report advances or results obtained in the experimentation of these techniques. Gene therapy is not a new approach but tangible results are only now beginning to be appreciated. A study published in the journal Human Gene Therapy reports the first clinical evidence that gene therapy reduces symptoms in people with rheumatoid arthritis. The trial, currently conducted on only two patients, is based on the results of previous research conducted in 2005. This had demonstrated that it is possible to safely transfer the gene for the receptor antagonist for the interleukin 1. With the implantation of this gene it is possible to stimulate the production of the antagonist molecule which serves to block the inflammatory action of interleukin 1. The study, conducted at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston-USA), is was conducted, as previously anticipated, only on two people and therefore the sample is not statistically significant to affirm its absolute effectiveness, but in any case, a new path opens up for the treatment of this widespread and disabling pathology. [via bidmc | source image ]