In collaboration with the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetic, NDORMS researchers have been working to establish the type of disease-causing immune cells in this condition in order to identify new treatments. Spondyloarthritis encompasses a group of common inflammatory diseases thought to be driven by IL-17A-secreting type-17 lymphocytes.
In a recent article published in Nature Communications the researchers identified the expansion of a subset of immune cells in patient blood and joint fluid that are likely to be driving the inflammation by releasing a particular inflammatory molecule called GM-CSF. Both GM-CSF+ and IL-17A cells express increased levels of GPR65, a proton-sensing receptor associated with spondyloarthritis. Silencing GPR65 in primary CD4 T cells reduces GM-CSF production. GM-CSF and GPR65 may thus serve as targets for therapeutic intervention of spondyloarthritis.
Commenting on the findings, lead researcher Dr Hussein Al-Mossawi says: “It is hoped that this research will inform new trials that target GM-CSF in order to treat patients who suffer from this disease.”
Read the full article on Nature Communications:
- Unique transcriptome signatures and GM-CSF expression in lymphocytes from patients with spondyloarthritis: M. H. Al-Mossawi, L. Chen, H. Fang, A. Ridley, J. de Wit, N. Yager, A. Hammitzsch, I. Pulyakhina, B. P. Fairfax, D. Simone, Yao Yi, S. Bandyopadhyay, K. Doig, R Gundle, B. Kendrick, F. Powrie, J. C. Knight & P. Bowness.
The research is funded by the Wellcome Trust and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
