IL-13 Gene Therapy Used to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis in Rodent Trial

The first successful use of interleukin-13 (IL-13) cytokine gene therapy to treat and prevent rheumatoid arthritis in a rodent trial has been reported by researchers at Northwestern University.

IL-13 reduces the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor, that are linked to inflammation of arthritic joints. Previous research has shown that IL-13 levels are low in the joints of arthritic rats as well as humans.

Researchers, speculating that inflammatory cytokine production is regulated improperly in rheumatoid arthritis, developed a virus that contained that IL-13 gene.

When the virus was injected into the joints of arthritic rats, IL-13 was produced, resulting in the lessening of joint inflammation, the researchers reported in the journal Human Gene Therapy. Also, injection of the gene into normal rat joints prevented the development of arthritis.

Other sources: Northwestern University