Sheffield scientists in gene therapy research into lupus
Scientists in Sheffield hope to develop a type of gene therapy to improve the treatment in the potentially crippling condition of lupus.
Paul Hellewell, Professor of Vascular Biology in the University of Sheffield's Division of Clinical Sciences, based at the Northern General Hospital, has been awarded a two-year-grant of almost £80,00 by the Arthritis Research Campaign to lead the work.
Lupus, also known as SLE or systemic lupus erythematosus, affects around 30,000 people in the UK, mainly women of child-bearing age. It is an auto-immune disease which results in recurrent damage to the body's blood vessels and can lead to kidney problems, joint damage, and frequent miscarriage.
Lupus is a chronic, life-long condition which alternates between periods of relapse, flare-up and remission, and is usually treated with low-dose steroids.
"None of the current treatments for lupus are ideal and a new approach is required," explained Professor Hellewell.
"Inflammation in the disease is controlled by a group of proteins called cell adhesion molecules, which act like molecular velcro. We have recently found that one of these proteins, called PSGL-1, allows small particles to stick to the lining cells (endolethial cells) of inflamed blood vessels.
"We propose to test the idea that PSGL-1-coated, biologically compatible microparticles, which contain a therapeutic gene, can be used to deliver anti-inflammatory genes to these diseased vessels. his type of gene therapy could then be used to treat lupus."
Instead of using a drug to treat a disease, gene therapy uses a gene that encodes a protein to treat the disease. This protein could be missing in the disease, so replacing it might be helpful. An important issue in gene therapy is getting the gene to the right place - so-called targeting - and with this grant Professor Hellewell will be targeting inflamed blood vessels.
The Chesterfield-based based national medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign is currently funding 20 research projects in Sheffield, London and Birmingham which are trying to establish the antibody structure of the disease, and its underlying genetic components.
