For Release at Noon, Tuesday Nov. 10
For More Information, Contact Kelley Sheahan, [email protected] or (404) 633-3777 until Nov. 5
(619) 525-5635 Nov. 6-12
Scientists Identify Possible Connection between Antigen and Genetic Susceptibility in JRA
Researchers have discovered a possible link between two factors suspected of contributing to the onset of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), according to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology National Scientific Meeting Nov. 8-12 in San Diego, Calif.
JRA is the most common rheumatologic disease of childhood and is an important cause of disability in children in the United States. While prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment can reduce the stiffness, pain, and swelling in involved joints, JRA can result in loss of joint function and deformity. As many as 285,000 children under the age of 16 are affected in the United States.
Although rheumatologists have long suspected that an immune system abnormality plays a key role in the pathogenesis of JRA, they have not been able to conclusively identify the target of the dysfunctional immune response. Antibodies to DEK, a protein found in cell nuclei, are strongly associated with the most common subtype of JRA. Using electrophoresis techniques, researchers demonstrated that DEK binds to the control region of the DQA1 gene, but that binding is absent in DQA1*0501, a genetic marker also associated with JRA.
"Further investigation of this interaction may lead to significant improvement in our understanding of the pathogenesis of JRA and other rheumatic diseases of childhood," said Barbara S. Adams, MD, Director of Pediatric Rheumatology at the University of Michigan Health System, who led the team conducting the research.
The American College of Rheumatology is the professional organization for rheumatologists and health professionals who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability and curing arthritis and related rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. For more information on this meeting, see http://www.rheumatology.org/educ/nm98/nm98.html.
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