Arthritis is caused by the immune system reacting unnecessarily to substances in the cartilage in a joint, which leads to inflammation. This is a natural mechanism, and cells called ‘dendritic cells’ normally protect us against this reaction. “In arthritis, this system becomes disturbed, and these dendritic cells become overactive”, Willem van Eden, Professor of Veterinary Immunology at Utrecht University, explains. “This in turn causes an inflammation in the joint.”
Treatment
Researchers at the University of Newcastle have successfully removed dendritic cells from the blood of arthritis patients and treated them with substances from the joint fluid from the inflamed joint. The dendritic cells were then returned to the patient, with the idea that the cells would become less active, reducing the inflammation in the patient. The treatment showed some effect and has proven to be safe in humans.
Treating arthritis early
Since this method requires the removal of fluid from the joints, it is only suitable for patients with very serious cases of arthritis. Patients suffering from an earlier stage of arthritis do not yet have swollen joints. However, researchers at Utrecht University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine have discovered a protein that is also suitable for treating the dendritic cells. This means that it is not necessary to remove joint fluid, so the therapy is suitable for patients in the early phases of the condition.
“This greatly increases the likelihood of complete recovery from the disease”, says Van Eden. “The therapy may be less effective for advanced arthritis, and may also have only a temporary effect. In the new Arthritis Foundation project, we will conduct preparatory experiments in order to make this revolutionary new therapy ready for the first tests in human patients.”