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Rheumatoid arthritis cure - only a jab away?
It's early stages, but researchers have taken the first successful step towards beating the disease for good
Scientists from Newcastle University have developed a potential new vaccine for rheumatoid arthritis and are set to test the jab on eight volunteers next year, with funding from the Arthritis Research Campaign.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes painful, swollen joints as well as fatigue, flu-like symptoms and can sometimes lead to lung and heart complications. It differs from other types of arthritis because it is thought to be an 'autoimmune' disorder – caused when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks itself, damaging its own joints. Although drug treatments can offer some relief, they work by suppressing the whole immune system leaving patients vulnerable to infection and can have other side effects.
The research team, led by Professor John Isaacs, has developed a way to suppress the damaging effects of the disease using the patient's own white blood cells. Although the work is in its very early stages, if successful it could signal a major breakthrough in curing the condition.
The researchers focused on the role of dendritic cells – special immune cells that are responsible for co-ordinating the body's response to disease and infection. While mature dendritic cells activate the immune system, a second type, known as tolerogenic dendritic cells, appear to suppress immune system activity.
Using a combination of chemicals, steroids and vitamin D, the researchers have found a way to manipulate white blood cells so that they developed into tolerogenic dendritic cells. To create the vaccine, cells will be taken from the patient, chemically manipulated into the immuno-suppressing, tolerogenic type and then injected back into the patient's knee. The presence of the manipulated cells should work to dampen down the body's immune response so it no longer attacks the joints.
The vaccine will be tested at the Freeman Hospital next year on eight volunteers with rheumatoid arthritis. Cell biopsies will be taken two weeks after the injection to assess its effectiveness. If the results are promising, the vaccine will then be trialled on a larger scale. All volunteers for this initial study have now been recruited via consultant referrals and places are full.
Although a similar technique has been used in cancer research, this is the first time it has been tried for rheumatoid arthritis. It is hoped that a successful trial could lead to the development of a new range of drugs that can 'switch off' unwanted, excessive immune responses without affecting the body’s defences against infection.
Jane Tadman, press officer for the Arthritis Research Campaign, expressed cautious excitement. "The vaccine has a great deal of potential," she said. "Current treatments for RA are rather akin to taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut – they tend to knock out the whole immune system, leaving patients' ability to fight off infection very compromised.
"The thrust of this research offers a more targeted approach that is closer to the 'dream' treatment – one that would knock out the immune cells responsible for RA while leaving the rest of the immune system untouched.
"However, it's important to stress that the vaccine has yet to undergo even this very small, pilot study. Even if this is successful, there are still three stages of clinical trials to pass through before the vaccine might be available on the NHS.
"Realistically, we are looking at a testing period of at least five to 10 years."
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
