Rheumatoid arthritis

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New nanoparticles have been discovered to be effective for treating rheumatoid arthritis.

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CREDIT Institute for Basic Science

A team of scientists led by Koo Sagang from Seoul National University and the Center for Nanoparticle Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), in collaboration with researchers from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Seoul National University, has developed a new solution for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that, unfortunately, has no cure. The disease triggers a mix of troublesome symptoms such as inflamed joints, harmful cytokines, and immune system imbalances, which work together to create a relentless cycle of worsening symptoms. While targeting some of these factors can provide short-term relief, others remain unresolved, leading to a frustrating cycle of remission and flare-ups.

“An important challenge in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the difficulty in returning the immune system to a healthy state. This results in the body being unable to regulate the ongoing production of harmful substances such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines, which leads to persistent inflammation and discomfort.”

In essence, the ideal treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should offer immediate relief from inflammation and symptoms and target the underlying cause by restoring the immune system to its normal, balanced state.

New nanoparticle-based system as a solution

The new platform involves immobilizing ceria nanoparticles (Ce NPs) onto mesenchymal stem cell-derived nanovesicles (MSCNVs). These components can hinder different pathogenic factors, allowing them to work individually and cooperatively to achieve a comprehensive treatment.

Ce nanoparticles can scavenge the overproduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-affected knee joints. They also induce polarization of M1 macrophages into M2, leading to immediate relief of inflammation and symptoms.

MSCNVs – deliver immunomodulatory cytokines, which turn dendritic cells (DC) into tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs). This consequently generates regulatory T cells for long-term immune tolerance.

In short, this approach aims to bridge both innate and adaptive immunity to achieve both short-term pain relief as well as convert the tissue environment into an immune-tolerant state to prevent the recurrence of symptoms.

Researchers confirmed the efficacy of this approach using a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model. The Ce-MSCNV system was able to comprehensively treat and prevent RA by simultaneously relieving the immediate and restoring T cell immunity. Supporting data suggest that improvement in conditions can be achieved after only a single-dose treatment.

The mice treated with the Ce-MSCNV combination fared far better than those treated using the Ce NP or MSCNV group. This demonstrates the synergy between anti-inflammation and immunomodulation and underlines the importance of the combined therapy for effective RA treatment. In addition, Ce-MSCNV administration before booster injection markedly reduced the incidence and severity of symptoms, supporting the prophylactic potential of these nanoparticles.

First author KOO Sagang stated, “One of the hardest decisions in intractable disease therapy is determining how long the treatment should take. For RA, it would not be appropriate to stop treatment just because the target marker is stabilized. A safer indicator should be that the innate and adaptive components of the collapsed immune system are normalized to protect the body.”

Koo believes that the strategy adopted by Ce-MSCNVs, where different treatment mechanisms work together, provides a unique advantage. Furthermore, she predicts that a similar approach would also apply to other intractable, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases for this purpose. The components within the system may also be modified. For example, other catalysts for generating ROS or other cell-derived nanovesicles could be utilized depending on the types of diseases. Overall, this study proves the potential of a hybrid nanoparticle system for the comprehensive treatment of autoimmune disease and modulation of the immune system.

Posted on Rheumatoid arthritis

“Flares, Fatigue, and Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis”

Flares, fatigue and pain in rheumatoid arthritis - YouTube


Dr. Susan Bartlett discusses the challenges of dealing with flares, fatigue, and pain in rheumatoid arthritis. Flares are often triggered by stress, so it’s important to pay attention to your body during these times. Fatigue in RA is an extreme exhaustion that does not improve with rest or sleep. Dr. Bartlett offers strategies for managing pain and encourages patients to communicate with their doctors about their pain levels.

Posted on Rheumatoid arthritis

“Having a high BMI increases the risk of developing several rheumatic diseases, but the risk is not the same for everyone.”

Tips for successful dieting
Tips for successful dieting

A recent study from Uppsala University indicates that having a higher body mass index (BMI) can raise the risk of developing five different rheumatic diseases: rheumatism, osteoarthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory spondylitis. The researchers also observed that BMI posed a more significant risk factor for women in terms of gout and psoriatic arthritis, compared to men. The study will be featured in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology.

“Understanding the risks associated with rheumatic diseases can help show that maintaining a lower body weight may be an effective intervention to reduce the risk of developing these conditions,” explained Weronica Ek, a Docent and Researcher at the Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology at Uppsala University, who led the study. “Most rheumatic diseases are driven by inf…”Most rheumatic diseases are driven by inflammation in the body and mainly affect joints, muscles and bones, but vital organs and vessels can also be affected. Symptoms of rheumatic disease can include fatigue, swelling and pain in the joints, stiffness and reduced movement function.

Previous studies have revealed a link between rheumatic diseases and a high BMI, which is a measure that adjusts body weight according to the individual’s height. However, it has not been thoroughly explored whether this connection is a result of high BMI causing rheumatic disease, or if patients with rheumatic disease simply tend to have a higher BMI due to other unidentified reasons. This issue is frequently encountered in epidemiological studies that rely on observational data.

“The researchers in a recent study attempted to address the issue by utilizing information found in human genes. They focused on specific genetic variants linked to a high BMI and found that individuals with a genetic predisposition to higher BMI are at a greater risk of developing rheumatic disease.”“Although we have seen this connection in the past, it is difficult to identify the causal relations between BMI and disease. But when we found that the genes linked to high BMI were also associated with a higher risk of these rheumatic diseases, we were able to conclude that BMI truly does have an impact on the risk of developing rheumatic disease,” notes Ek.

The researchers employed the genetic method called Mendelian randomization to investigate differences between men and women. They also explored potential variations in how BMI impacts the risk for women of childbearing age compared to those who have undergone menopause.

“For both gout and psoriatic arthritis, which are common diseases in patients with psoriasis, we found that a high BMI was a stronger risk factor for women than for men. We also observed that the impact of BMI on the risk of developing osteoarthritis was lower in post-menopausal women compared to women of childbearing age,” explained Fatemeh Hadizadeh, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, and one of the main authors of the study.

The researchers also found that a certain increase in BMI did not result in an equal increase in the risk of developing gout among individuals with low, normal and high BMI.

“We observed that an increase in BMI among individuals with a normal weight led to a significantly higher relative increase in the risk of developing gout compared to an increase in BMI among individuals who are already overweight or obese. This implies that the risk does not increase as much for those who are already overweight. However, it’s important to note that the basic risk of developing gout is always higher with a higher BMI. These non-linear effects are intriguing from a molecular biological perspective and can help us understand the underlying mechanisms behind the increased disease risk associated with higher body weight,” explains Torgny Karlsson, a Statistician at the Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology at Uppsala University and one of the lead authors of the study.

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“Why does cannabis help with rheumatoid arthritis? A doctor explains about medical cannabis.”

Dr. Jagmeet Sethi, MD, drawing from data on 15,000 patients and 40,000 visits over seven years, emphatically asserts that cannabis, encompassing both CBD oil and THC, effectively alleviates joint pain in Rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Jagmeet Sethi, MD, a reputable medical professional, confidently expounds on how CBD oil benefits rheumatoid arthritis and the significant role of THC oils in providing relief from joint pain. With his extensive experience, Dr. Jagmeet Sethi emphasizes that cannabis undeniably diminishes inflammation, reduces pain, and alleviates muscle stiffness, thereby enhancing overall function.