Re: NEWS: Rheumatoid arthritis gene link proven....mike

July 5, 2005

dear a not to pop anybodies bubble . but how long will it take to

research and find new drugs from this. if I'm right it takes 15 yrs. to get a

new drug though the FDA if they have already found it. it that true. plus more

research which may take another 15 yrs. but it's good news for future

generations...... sorry guys & gals i got to be realist .

a <a54@...> wrote: Rheumatoid arthritis gene link proven

Monday, 4 July 2005, 4:30 pm

Press Release: University of Otago

4 July 2005

Rheumatoid arthritis gene link proven

The gene PTPN22 has been confirmed as one of the factors that cause

rheumatoid arthritis by University of Otago researchers.

“This is only the second gene in the past 25 years to be universally

accepted as a gene associated with the susceptibility for arthritis,”

Department of Biochemistry Senior Research Fellow Dr Tony Merriman

says.

The finding has just been published in the leading international

arthritis research journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.

The research was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand

and Arthritis New Zealand.

The gene was first identified last year as potentially being

instrumental in causing rheumatoid arthritis, and Dr Merriman’s study

is one of the first studies to replicate - and thus validate - the

original findings.

“The initial finding is only half the story. It’s only when that

finding has been replicated convincingly that the initial paper becomes

of more importance, and I am delighted that we have been able to do

that,” Dr Merriman says.

“This is the culmination of six years of collecting samples and I want

to thank the many hundreds of people with and without rheumatoid

arthritis from around New Zealand who generously gave DNA samples. The

New Zealand Rheumatology Research Network also played a critical role.”

The resultant DNA database will play an important role in replicating

other international findings and generating new findings, as a large

sample group is vital to ensure results are reliable.

Confirmation that the gene plays a definite role in rheumatoid

arthritis means research pharmacists can study the gene’s mechanism and

where its messages break down in order to develop drugs to correct the

defect.

“Previously we knew rheumatoid arthritis was an immune disease but the

immune system is so huge and complex it is difficult for researchers to

know where to look – or necessarily what was a cause and what was a

result of the disease. Now we have a real starting point for research

into treatment as we know that PTPN22 is a cause.”

PTPN22 plays an important role in limiting the activity of the immune

system’s soldier cells, T lymphocytes, which attack and destroy foreign

cells. In rheumatoid arthritis T lymphocytes get out of control and

initiate and drive the attack on the body’s own cells.

“So it would seem that the message to control the T lymphocytes and

stop attacking the joints becomes faulty,” Dr Merriman says.

- Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating autoimmune disease where the

body attacks itself in the joints, causing inflammation, stiffness and

pain. It affects one in 50 New Zealand adults.

- PTPN22, is also over-represented in people with Type 1 diabetes and

thyroiditis, providing extra evidence it is a causal factor in

autoimmune diseases generally.

July 5, 2005

dear a not to pop anybodies bubble . but how long will it take to

research and find new drugs from this. if I'm right it takes 15 yrs. to get a

new drug though the FDA if they have already found it. it that true. plus more

research which may take another 15 yrs. but it's good news for future

generations...... sorry guys & gals i got to be realist .

a <a54@...> wrote: Rheumatoid arthritis gene link proven

Monday, 4 July 2005, 4:30 pm

Press Release: University of Otago

4 July 2005

Rheumatoid arthritis gene link proven

The gene PTPN22 has been confirmed as one of the factors that cause

rheumatoid arthritis by University of Otago researchers.

“This is only the second gene in the past 25 years to be universally

accepted as a gene associated with the susceptibility for arthritis,”

Department of Biochemistry Senior Research Fellow Dr Tony Merriman

says.

The finding has just been published in the leading international

arthritis research journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.

The research was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand

and Arthritis New Zealand.

The gene was first identified last year as potentially being

instrumental in causing rheumatoid arthritis, and Dr Merriman’s study

is one of the first studies to replicate - and thus validate - the

original findings.

“The initial finding is only half the story. It’s only when that

finding has been replicated convincingly that the initial paper becomes

of more importance, and I am delighted that we have been able to do

that,” Dr Merriman says.

“This is the culmination of six years of collecting samples and I want

to thank the many hundreds of people with and without rheumatoid

arthritis from around New Zealand who generously gave DNA samples. The

New Zealand Rheumatology Research Network also played a critical role.”

The resultant DNA database will play an important role in replicating

other international findings and generating new findings, as a large

sample group is vital to ensure results are reliable.

Confirmation that the gene plays a definite role in rheumatoid

arthritis means research pharmacists can study the gene’s mechanism and

where its messages break down in order to develop drugs to correct the

defect.

“Previously we knew rheumatoid arthritis was an immune disease but the

immune system is so huge and complex it is difficult for researchers to

know where to look – or necessarily what was a cause and what was a

result of the disease. Now we have a real starting point for research

into treatment as we know that PTPN22 is a cause.”

PTPN22 plays an important role in limiting the activity of the immune

system’s soldier cells, T lymphocytes, which attack and destroy foreign

cells. In rheumatoid arthritis T lymphocytes get out of control and

initiate and drive the attack on the body’s own cells.

“So it would seem that the message to control the T lymphocytes and

stop attacking the joints becomes faulty,” Dr Merriman says.

- Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating autoimmune disease where the

body attacks itself in the joints, causing inflammation, stiffness and

pain. It affects one in 50 New Zealand adults.

- PTPN22, is also over-represented in people with Type 1 diabetes and

thyroiditis, providing extra evidence it is a causal factor in

autoimmune diseases generally.

July 6, 2005

It could take many years, but at least knowing the cause will allow

researchers to be able to focus valuable research money on a cure.

Maybe it will come to late for us, but maybe it won't be to late for

our children and grandchildren. These mysterious autoimmune diseases

can't be cured when they don't know the cause. Even though they may

have proven a genetic link, it still doesn't solve the puzzle. Many

people have genes that can make them more susceptible to certain

diseases but they never develop the disease. So they will still have

to find the trigger. The immune system is so complex. It will keep

them busy for a long time.

a

On Jul 6, 2005, at 12:13 AM, mike nelson wrote:

> dear a not to pop anybodies bubble . but how long will it take

> to research and find new drugs from this. if I'm right it takes 15

> yrs. to get a new drug though the FDA if they have already found it.

> it that true. plus more research which may take another 15 yrs. but

> it's good news for future generations...... sorry guys & gals i got

> to be realist .

July 6, 2005