"Scientists Discover Gene That Predicts Arthritis Severity" - Sally Robertson, BSc
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered a new gene that is associated with disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis. It is hoped that the gene with lead to new treatments and new ways of assessing the prognosis of patients with the condition. As reported in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, senior author, Percio Gulko, MD, chief of the division of rheumatology, professor of medicine and rheumatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and colleagues have shown for the first time that the gene H1P1 is a driver of inflammatory arthritis severity and cell invasiveness. “At my laboratory, we have been looking for alternative strategies. In this research, we have focused on understanding the regulation of disease severity and joint damage. Our discovery led us to the synovial fibroblasts, cells inside the joint,” said Dr. Gulko. “We are aiming for a novel way of treating the disease. One that targets the synovial fibroblast, while sparing the immune system outside the joint,” added Dr. Gulko.
- Percio S. Gulko, MD, Chief, Division of Rheumatology, Lillian and Henry M. Stratton Professor, Medicine, Rheumatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Additional coverage:
Healio – Rheumatology