New study shows role of protein in rheumatoid arthritis onset

New research funded byArthritis Research UK has shed light on the role of genetics and a certain bodily protein on the development ofrheumatoid arthritis. The study, led by King's College London and published in the journal Science Signaling, could provide a key insight into how the disease functions, potentially opening the door for innovative new therapies to be created in future. How PTPN22 protein mutations affects rheumatoid arthritis risk The research aimed to build on the existing understanding that a certain mutation in the gene that encodes for the protein PTPN22 is one of the strongest risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis andlupus. This mutation is known to cause a small change in the PTPN22 protein, but prior to this it was not clear exactly how this change might alter the protein's function. For this new research, advanced super-resolution microscopy techniques were used to look at how the protein behaved at the nanoscale level. In normal circumstances, the protein was shown to be found in large clusters in white blood cells, splitting into smaller clusters when the white blood cell was activated to react to foreign invaders. However, mutations interrupted this process, resulting in white blood cells that become too sticky and no longer able to perform normal functions. How could this lead to new treatment breakthroughs? By analysing how proteins and mutations affect the behaviour immune cells, it becomes easier for scientists to understand how they then ...

Source: Arthritis Research UK - October 9, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news