American scientists have announced the creation of an experimental vaccine against rheumatoid arthritis. This autoimmune disease is currently untreatable.
One of the creators of the drug, Dr. Ritu Chakravarty, associate professor in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences at the University of Toledo (Ohio), has found during years of research that the protein 14-3-3 zeta protects against rheumatoid arthritis. An experimental vaccine was developed using this purified protein grown in a bacterial cell, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports.
Animal experiments showed that the vaccine induces a strong and prolonged response from the body's innate immune system, which provides protection against the disease. In the test animals, the disease disappeared completely. "If we can successfully bring this vaccine to clinical trials, it will be revolutionary," Chakravarty noted.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease accompanied by the destruction of healthy tissue, primarily the joints of the hands, wrists, ankles and knees. It is impossible to cure the disease completely; patients are only relieved of symptoms with broad-spectrum corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, says RIA Novosti.
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