Oxford scientists at the forefront of rheumatoid arthritis research
SCIENTISTS in Oxford are playing a major role in research into the crippling condition of rheumatoid arthritis, which affects around 600,000 people in the UK.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease in which the body's immune system attacks the joints, causing pain, stiffness and intense fatigue.
Professor Paul Wordsworth and his team at the Musculoskeletal Research Unit at John Radcliffe Hospital are involved in a five-year gene mapping programme, trying to identify the genes which predispose certain people to develop the disease.
The team's work is being highlighted by leading medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign - which is funding the programme – during its Research Week (June 5-12), aimed at raising awareness of rheumatoid arthritis.
The charity is spearheading a major research initiative into rheumatoid arthritis by currently pumping more than £6m into research in centres throughout the UK. The outlook for patients is improving dramatically as better and more effective drug treatments are constantly being developed.
"Rheumatoid arthritis is likely to be caused by a number of factors working in conjunction with each other, and we think some people inherit particular genes which may predispose them to developing it, "explained ARC clinical research fellow Dr Kirsten MacKay. "However they will need to be exposed to certain environmental factors if the condition is to be triggered."
The ARC team is trying to identify some of the genes which may predispose people to develop rheumatoid arthritis, testing the DNA of blood samples taken from families with more than one child with arthritis.
"We test it to see whether particular areas within the DNA are inherited in those people with rheumatoid arthritis more frequently than expected," added Dr MacKay. "As DNA contains tens of thousands of genes we will need to study these specific sections in great detail – it's a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, but first of all we need to find the likely bales of hay!"
If they can track down the relevant genes, ultimately doctors will be able to predict who will develop the disease, and level of severity. "If we could do that, we could then work who needed early treatment. We may also be able to discover new and better forms of treatment, and maybe switch off the disease in some people before it becomes too severe," said Dr MacKay.
The team is trying to recruit families in which one child has RA to take part in the study. Anyone who can help can contact research nurse Linda Bradbury on 01865 227325.
