Researchers developed a protein based vaccine that prevents rheumatoid arthritis and enhances bone quality in animal models indicating long lasting benefits.
Scientists from the University of Toledo, U.S., found a new potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The team developed an experimental protein-based vaccine that prevents the disease and improves bone quality in in animal models. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects joints including those in feet and hands. This excruciating disease that has no cure at present. According to the research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on August 24, 2021, the newly developed experimental vaccine treatment promises significant prevention of rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common autoimmune disease with high prevalence affecting 1% of the population all over the world. When immune system attacks healthy tissue particular the joints lining in wrists, hands, knee and ankles. Despite of its high prevalence, the disease has no cure. However, this research may have found a potential treatment. The research explored a protein known as 14-3-3 zeta as it is previously suspected to have a role in numerous autoimmune diseases. The team found that the lack of 14-3-3 zeta accelerated the disease progression in mice. More precisely, the scientists noticed as the animals were losing anti- 14-3-3 zeta antibodies, the arthritis appeared to be encouraged. Hence, the team created a new vaccine to fuel anti-14-3-3 zeta antibodies production. When tested the new protein based vaccine in some animal models, the progression of the disease was effectively prevented.
Moreover, the vaccine also drastically enhanced bone quality in the animals. The result of this experiment suggest long-lasting advantages of the protein-based vaccine following immunization. The safety and toxicity studies will be conducted soon after getting a partnership with pharmaceutical organizations. However, the team claims that the new discovery indicates potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.