GENE-THERAPY FOR RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Current understanding of the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis has provided evidence that therapeutic benefit can be achieved by using an tagonists targeted to the inflammatory cytokines involved, mainly tumo ur necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1. Gene delivery of antagonis ts, which can inhibit the production or action of these cytokines and other mediators, has been achieved in experimental animal models. This new method of delivery can produce therapeutic effects at lower conce ntrations and in a local environment, overcoming the adverse effects t hat often accompany protein therapy. However, several technological an d biological restraints preclude the immediate adaptation of this meth od to human treatment. Based on the experimental evidence, possible ta rget therapeutic genes, cell types and vector systems that could be us ed are discussed in this article.