The Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF) has funded five scientific studies investigating how arthritis occurs in the body. As the mechanisms of these diseases are more fully understood, new and better therapies may be developed.

Recently approved new treatments for arthritis have been the direct result of such research. The new Cox-2 inhibitor drugs, Vioxx (Merck & Co.) and Celebrex (Searle) are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) intended to be gentler on the digestive tract. Scientists isolated the specific enzyme which precipitates the inflammatory process in osteoarthritis (known as Cox-2). These drugs target this specific enzyme, but do not inhibit the other enzyme necessary for proper digestion (known as Cox-1). "Pain relief with less stomach upset" is a tremendous breakthrough for the millions who suffer the pain of arthritis every day.

The Arthritis National Research Foundation is committed to funding the work of researchers developing new therapies intended to help improve the quality of life for arthritis sufferers. Five young investigators have received grants from ANRF this year:

Sanshiro Hashimoto, M.D., Scripps Research Institute
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the progressive erosion of cartilage. Over 20 million Americans suffer from this most prevalent form of arthritis. One of the most profound, age-related changes in joint cartilage is the reduction in the number of cartilage cells. In patients with osteoarthritis, an increased number of cartilage cells undergo "cell death" without adequate regeneration of new cells. Dr. Hashimoto's study will examine the mechanism of cell death in OA and whether the inhibition of cell death can be pursued as a novel approach to ameliorate cartilage degeneration.

Yi Liu, Ph.D., University of Southern California
There are over 100 forms of arthritis. In many instances, patients do not fully express the symptoms of one specific form, but have an overlap of symptoms from two or more diseases. Fifteen to 25 percent of patients referred to rheumatologists (medical doctors who specialize in arthritis) with suspected systemic rheumatic diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus) fall in this category. This condition of "overlap" is classified as undifferentiated connective tissue syndrome (UCTS). Little is known at present about UCTS.

Dr. Yi Liu has identified several UCTS patients with mutations in the gene which has been identified as regulating cell death. His study hypothesizes that defects in this gene may cause an impaired cell death pathway which may contribute to the origination of the disease. The identification of the mutations in this specific gene will mark the beginning of understanding the disease pathway for patients with undifferentiated connective tissue syndrome.

Ae-Kyung Yi, Ph.D., University of Iowa
Many autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) and some types of arthritis, are thought to be triggered by bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial DNA can be found in the blood and synovial (joint) fluid of some arthritis and lupus patients. Dr. Yi will investigate how bacterial DNA induces inflammatory responses and interferes with autoimmune tolerance mechanisms. This study will enhance the understanding of how the immune system reacts to bacterial infection, which may lead to more specific new therapeutic approaches for SLE and other autoimmune inflammatory diseases.

Edward Treadwell, M.D., East Carolina University School of Medicine
Dr. Treadwell's study concentrates on understanding how specific chemical compounds existing in pristane, which is found in mineral oil and used for many food preparations, may cause systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). Lupus is an immune disorder which causes the body to make an abnormal amount of antibodies, which protect against viruses, cancer and other foreign agents which may enter and harm the body. If Dr. Treadwell's study indicates that specific chemical compounds can induce arthritis conditions like lupus, we can then avoid or modify these compounds to potentially prevent diseases such as lupus.

Dean Richardson, DVM, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Injury and/or arthritis causes damage to articular cartilage in joints. Cartilage is a highly differentiated and specialized cell type that has almost no capacity for healing or replacing itself when seriously injured. When this cartilage is lost, it is lost forever. One approach to replacing lost cartilage has been to graft cells into the site but, to date, this has met with limited success. In this study, researchers will transfer a gene that stimulates the synthesis of cartilage components into cells; these cells will then be grafted into a damaged joint. The study will be done on horses; the large size of the horses' joints will allow scientists to follow the progress of healing over time by arthroscopy. Also, horses provide an excellent model because they suffer similar clinical problems as humans. In addition, horses have large joints, cartilage thickness and underlying bone, all of which closely approximate those of humans.

The Arthritis National Research Foundation has been funding arthritis research since 1952. Based in Long Beach, California, ANRF disseminates information to the public on current research through a periodic newsletter and their web site, www.curearthritis.org. Grants are awarded on an annual basis. Proposals are peer-reviewed by the ANRF Scientific Advisory Board of Directors, nationally recognized expert scientists and physicians in the field.

For more information on the Arthritis National Research Foundation or a copy of the Grant Guidelines, contact:
Helene Belisle, Executive Director, Arthritis National Research Foundation, 200 Oceangate, Suite 440, Long Beach, CA 90802.
800-588-2873; 562-983-1410 (fax), or anrf@ix.netcom.com (e-mail). Internet web site: www.curearthritis.org