Health
Study suggests arthritis, central nervous system link
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 18, 2006
Interrupting signals between joints and the central nervous system has the potential to ameliorate arthritis, according to a paper in the September Public Library of Science Medicine.
Researchers studying rats with induced arthritis found that inflammation of the joints was sensed and affected by p38 MAP kinase, an enzyme that transmits information from the spinal cord to peripheral tissues. Blocking this enzyme was also possible and resulted in a reduction in inflammation and damage to the joints.
Beneficial effects were noted when the drug was targeted to the spinal cord but not when it was delivered systemically.
The authors suggest that this finding may lead to new, more targeted treatments for arthritis.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/09/18/hlbf0918.htm.