Gene Therapy in Arthritis Cases

Gene Therapy in Arthritis Cases

Gene therapy is a relatively new area of science in which geneticists are learning how to modify genes in organisms to effect the overall function of the body. This process is showing promising results in many areas of science such as disease prevention. If a geneticists can change the genotype in an organism's body to mask that of a disease, the disease can be prevented. Along with this genes can also be added for the body to make more or less of a certain bodily chemical in order to cope with a current condition. This is what scientist are hoping to do with arthritis.

Arthritis is a condition in which chronic pain persists in joints of the body. Many cases of this condition are caused by a protein deficiency for the protein lubricin. Lubricin (like you may have guessed by the name) provides a lubricant between joints, allowing for smooth pain-free movement. A low amount of lubricant means that joints are grinding and not moving very freely, causing the pain in arthritis. This type of arthritis is a genetic condition, meaning that it can be passed on from generation to generation and can even affect young people. Because it is a genetic disorder, scientist have been trying to find a way (through gene therapy) to encode the body to make more lubricin. Because gene therapy has not been approved for human testing yet, scientist have been testing their efforts on mice.

Scientists did their testing on mice that were bred to have an extra gene to produce lubricin. In these tests they compared the modified mice to a control group that received no treatment. The modified mice were subject to a knee injury and observed afterward. After the injury the modified mice exhibited no arthritis and resembled the cartilage of the mice that were never injured. Then the control group was subject to the same. These mice showed symptoms of arthritis just one month after the injuries.

Because of the growing life expectancy and population of elderly people in the world, arthritis is a rapidly increasing condition. Today it affects more people than it ever has. It is a painful and hard condition to live with, which is why it is important that research and testing such as that stated above be funded and continuing. Gene therapy is also a field of science that has a bright future. The possibilities seem endless with such a wide range of genes to work with. But scientist have a fine line to watch as they decide what is necessary and what is immoral to do with humans.


This article was interesting for me because biology and chemistry classes that I have taken in the past have peaked my interest in genetics. I think that it is a fascinating field that has not been around that long, but has the chance to provide some of the greatest discoveries for the next century. I also think that the moral/ immoral practice part of it is a great debate for scientist because even I do not know where I stand on how far I am willing to let science go with modifying human genes. Either way gene therapy is an interesting topic with a bright future.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/?p=156#.UVxq9XeZZ8E