“We will explore the significant role of nutrition and diet in maintaining a healthy lifestyle for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. Ailsa had a discussion with Elena Nikiphorou, a Rheumatologist Consultant, and Clinical Researcher at King’s College Hospital in London, as well as with patients living with RA. You can look forward to learning about how dietary choices can impact inflammation, ease symptoms, and enhance the overall quality of life for those managing rheumatoid arthritis.”
Medical marijuana, particularly the cannabinoids found in marijuana such as cannabidiol (CBD), has demonstrated potential in alleviating certain symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it is important to discuss the use of medical marijuana for rheumatoid arthritis with a healthcare professional, as its effectiveness can vary from person to person.
Medical marijuana is believed to benefit rheumatoid arthritis patients in three main ways:
1. Pain Relief: Both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD have demonstrated pain-relieving properties, alleviating the chronic pain associated with RA.
2. Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Cannabinoids, especially CBD, have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the inflammation causing joint damage in RA.
3. Reduced Muscle Spasms: Marijuana can relax muscles and reduce muscle spasms, which is especially helpful for individuals with RA experiencing muscle stiffness and pain.
“Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound derived from cannabis sativa, has shown anti-inflammatory properties in various conditions, including arthritis. However, its exact mechanism of action has been somewhat unclear due to its interactions with multiple receptors and enzymes. A study from 2020 shed light on CBD’s effects, revealing that it increases intracellular calcium levels, reduces cell viability, and decreases the production of inflammatory factors such as IL-6, IL-8, and MMP-3 in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASF) [1].”
The 2020 study suggested that CBD specifically targets activated, pro-inflammatory RASF. It concluded that CBD has anti-arthritic properties and may improve arthritis by targeting synovial fibroblasts under inflammatory conditions [1]. However, a 2022 review suggests that evidence about the effect of cannabis on rheumatoid arthritis is very uncertain [2]. The review notes that cannabis and cannabinoid products may slightly reduce disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis but do not always help with pain reduction.
Best Strains for Rheumatoid Arthritis
It is important to approach medical marijuana with caution and seek guidance from a healthcare professional. Different strains and consumption methods may have varying effects, and individual responses can differ significantly. Medical marijuana is typically just one aspect of a comprehensive treatment plan for rheumatoid arthritis, which may also include medications, physical therapy, and other interventions. Considering current research, patients using medical marijuana for rheumatoid arthritis may want to try high CBD cannabis strains before using THC varieties.
Remember that high CBD strains, also known as hemp flowers, have very low THC content and are non-psychoactive. There are also marijuana varieties with high CBD and less psychoactive effects, containing more than 0.3% THC. It’s important to note that these varieties are not the same as a “50/50” hybrid, which refers to balanced Indica and Sativa genetics and does not necessarily mean an equal cannabinoid content. Equal cannabinoid content is represented as a “1:1 THC to CBD ratio,” which is the same ratio found in the prescription cannabinoid drug Sativex. Sativex (nabiximols) has shown significant improvement in clinical cases of rheumatoid arthritis and may be recommended by your doctor as an alternative to medical cannabis.
A newly developed method called ReapTEC has allowed thousands of active bidirectional enhancers to be discovered. Further analysis of GWAS data revealed that various immune-mediated diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, are related to genetic variations within these enhancers. CREDIT RIKEN
Researchers, led by Yasuhiro Murakawa at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) and Kyoto University in Japan, along with IFOM ETS in Italy, have identified rare types of helper T cells associated with immune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma. Their findings, published on July 4 in Science, were made possible by a newly developed technology called ReapTEC, which identified genetic enhancers in rare T cell subtypes linked to specific immune disorders. The researchers have made the new T cell atlas publicly available, which is expected to aid in developing new drug therapies for immune-mediated diseases.
Helper T cells are white blood cells that play a significant role in the immune system. They identify pathogens and control the immune response. Many immune-related diseases are the result of abnormal T-cell functionality. For example, in autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, they mistakenly attack the body’s own tissues as if they were foreign invaders. In the case of allergies, T cells excessively react to harmless substances like pollen. While several common T cells are known, recent research indicates the existence of rare and specialized types of T cells that may be associated with immune-related diseases.
In all cells, including T cells, there are DNA regions called “enhancers.” These regions do not code for proteins; instead, they code for small pieces of RNA and enhance the expression of other genes. Variations in T cell enhancer DNA lead to differences in gene expression, which can affect T cell function. Some enhancers are bidirectional, meaning that both strands of DNA are used as templates for enhancer RNA. Researchers from various laboratories at RIKEN IMS, along with colleagues from other institutes, collaborated to develop the new ReapTEC technology and investigate the links between bidirectional T cell enhancers and immune diseases.
They analyzed about a million human T cells and found several groups of rare T cell types, which accounted for less than 5% of the total. By applying ReapTEC to these cells, they identified almost 63,000 active bidirectional enhancers. To determine if any of these enhancers are related to immune diseases, they turned to genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which have reported numerous genetic variants, called single-nucleotide polymorphisms, that are related to various immune diseases.
After combining the GWAS data with the results of their ReapTEC analysis, the researchers discovered that genetic variants for immune-mediated diseases were frequently situated within the bidirectional enhancer DNA of the rare T cells they had identified. In contrast, genetic variants for neurological diseases did not exhibit a similar pattern. This indicates that the bidirectional enhancers in these rare T cells are specifically associated with immune-mediated diseases.
In their research, the scientists delved deeper into the data and found that specific enhancers in rare T cells are linked to certain immune diseases. Out of the 63,000 bidirectional enhancers, they pinpointed 606 that contained single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with 18 immune-related illnesses. Additionally, they identified some of the genes targeted by these disease-linked enhancers. For instance, when they stimulated an enhancer containing a genetic variant linked to inflammatory bowel disease, the resulting enhancer RNA led to an increase in the IL7R gene.
“In the short term, we have developed a new genomics method that can be used by researchers around the world,” says Murakawa. “Using this method, we discovered new types of helper T cells, as well as genes related to immune disorders. We hope that this knowledge will lead to a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying human immune-mediated diseases.”
Ten natural treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
