Fed: Protein could bring relief for arthritis sufferers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2006
Fed: Protein could bring relief for arthritis sufferers

By Tamara McLean, National Medical Writer

SYDNEY, Aug 23 AAP - A protein that naturally fights inflammation in the body could
be the key to relief for arthritis sufferers, Australian researchers have discovered.

A study by Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane scientists has found that injecting high doses
of an anti-inflammatory drug can "turn down" the overactive immune systems of people with
rheumatoid arthritis.

The discovery, detailed in the latest issue of the international journal The Lancet,
is being heralded as a long-awaited breakthrough in the field.

The protein, known as chaperonin 10, works naturally in everybody to fight off inflammation
when it initially flares up.

In people with rheumatoid arthritis, the overactive immune system attacks the tissues
lining the joints, leading to painful inflammation, heat and swelling.

Queensland biotech company CBio have created a drug containing the protein which was
tested on 23 people with moderate to severe forms of the disease.

The compound was injected intravenously twice a week over three months and was found
to be "safe and effective".

All volunteers experienced improvements, with patients on the highest doses of the
drug up to 70 per cent improved after treatment.

And 13 per cent of patients effectively went into remission.

"What we've shown is that by giving extra chaperonin 10 to people who suffer from this
disease, we can essentially limit this malfunction," CBio chief executive Dr Wolf Hanisch
said.

"It's exciting to now know it definitely works in humans."

While still in the early stages of development, the compound may prove more effective
than new-age rheumatoid arthritis treatments known as biological response modifiers, which
can weaken the immune system, he said.

Dr Hanisch hopes it could eventually be used to treat other auto-immune conditions
like the skin disease psoriasis.

Another trial of 40 people will start later this year to work out the best dose size
and when it should be administered, before large scale trials begin.

AAP tam/cjh/nf

KEYWORD: ARTHRITIS

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