Towards Gene Therapy For Arthritis

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As Betterhumans notes, scientists are moving towards the use of gene therapies for age-related inflammation and autoimmune disorders such as arthritis. The first, early trials have taken place or are underway: "Gene therapy can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic conditions, suggests a new human trial. ... Up to five years later, the researchers report, there are no clinical side effects and no signs that the gene-carrying vector - a modified retrovirus called Maloney Murine Leukemia Virus - has become capable of replication in the patients. ... Results showed that genetically modified cells had high levels of IL-1 Ra. Furthermore, clusters of cells that expressed large amounts of the gene were present at the surface of the synovial tissue and produced far less inflammation-provoking chemicals."

Link: http://www.betterhumans.com/News/News/tabid/61/News/705/Default.aspx