In a new study, researchers have discovered a new molecular mechanism causing arthritis.
They found that the death of a type of immune cell can trigger the disease. The immune cells are called macrophages.
They also found that a protein could prevent macrophage death and help prevent arthritis.
The research was conducted by an international team from Europe and Japan.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints.
It can cause a painful swelling that eventually results in bone erosion and joint deformity.
It is estimated that the disease affects 1% to 2% of the population and can severely affect the patients’ quality of life.
Currently, there is no cure for arthritis, but the disease progression in most patients can be slowed down with anti-inflammatory drugs.
In the study, the team aimed to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms that cause the disease.
They found that the immune cells macrophages are killed by a specific inflammation-promoting process. This leads to the inflammatory response in arthritis.
The researchers were able to prevent the development of arthritis by blocking the process using protein A20.
The finding confirms the crucial importance of A20 in the control of inflammation.
The team suggests that the finding could help develop a new treatment for arthritis. Drugs inhibiting cell death could be effective in the treatment of arthritis.
Now the team is working with several pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs to inhibit cell death.
Hopefully, this can help treat patients with inflammatory diseases, including arthritis.
The study is published in Nature Cell Biology.
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