Leeds arthritis researchers to track down important genes
A team of top Leeds researchers is to investigate the genetic factors behind the crippling condition of rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease affecting around 600,000 people, in which the body's immune system attacks the joints, leading to pain, inflammation and stiffness.
Dr John Isaacs, a senior lecturer in rheumatology at the University of Leeds, based at the Molecular Medicine Unit at St James's Hospital, has been awarded a two-year grant of £60,899 by medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign to carry out the team's study.
"The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but it clearly runs in families, which suggests that inherited, genetic factors play a role," explain Dr Isaacs, who is also the ARC's medical secretary.
"A peculiar feature of rheumatoid arthritis is the presence of an unusual antibody, called rheumatoid factor, in the blood stream. Rheumatoid factor sticks to other antibodies, to form a complicated antibody mixture called an immune complex.
"Our team has recently shown that inherited differences in receptors on white blood cells appear to predispose to rheumatoid arthritis. These receptors stick to immune complexes, causing the white blood cells to release chemicals that can cause joint damage. The inherited differences increase the tendency for the receptors to stick to immune complexes, which may explain the link with rheumatoid arthritis. We want to extend this work to study genetic differences in other similar receptors.
Dr Isaacs and his team hope that by learning more about the genetic influences on RA, they could possibly devise better forms of treatment, and decide which patients are most likely to benefit from them.
The city is a nationally recognised centre for arthritis research, with Professor Paul Emery at Leeds General Infirmary spearheading a major research programme, funded by the Arthritis Research Campaign to the tune of almost £3m.
Professor Emery's team at the Early Arthritis Clinic was recently named Rheumatology Team of the Year by Hospital Doctor magazine.
