Teaching blood cells how to 'switch off' arthritis
The AuToDeCRA-2 study seeks to prove it is possible to train white blood cell commanders - dubbed the "generals" of the immune system - to order other "soldier" cells to stop attacking healthy tissues.
Prof John Isaacs, who has worked on the condition for 35 years and is leading the research, believes this could make it possible to "switch off" rheumatoid arthritis.
Trial participant Carol Robson, from Jarrow in South Tyneside, says the worst part of living with the disease is the pain, but if the research helps ease suffering "that would be wonderful".
The study, funded by the charity Versus Arthritis and the European Commission, is being run by Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals.
"It's pioneering," Prof Isaacs claims. "There are only one or two other groups around the world doing similar work."
In this latest research, now in its second phase, certain cells are isolated from a patient's blood.
Prof Isaacs explained there are different types of cells that come together, rather like an army of soldiers, to attack an infection or disease.
These take instructions from the white blood cells known as dendritic cells, which he refers to as the "generals" of the immune system.
When these generals sense danger they become excited and send out the attack signal, but when there is no danger detected they remain calm and instruct the army to ignore healthy tissues.
When this goes wrong it causes diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Over the course of a week the patient's white blood cells are grown in the lab and trained to resemble the "calm" generals so that, when given back to the patient, they command the soldiers to stop attacking the patient's joints.
"In time, this treatment could provide significant benefits to people living with rheumatoid arthritis by 'switching off' the disease," Prof Isaacs explains.
Among the estimated 450,000 people in England who live with the condition is 70-year-old former nurse Ms Robson. She wakes up every morning to pain.
Before she was diagnosed she would put her hands in packets of frozen peas in an effort to find some relief.
She now takes immunosuppressants, which she says help a bit, but since being injected with the retrained white blood cells she believes she is in less pain.
"Is this just me hoping it is? But realistically I do think it is better," she says.
"If this trial works to switch off rheumatoid arthritis that would be wonderful.
"It's a privilege to be part of something that is actually quite a leap forward - if they get it right."
The outcome of the Newcastle work is being widely monitored as it could have huge implications for the 18 million rheumatoid arthritis patients worldwide.
Prof Isaacs said, if its successful, the research could also have implications for other autoimmune diseases such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis.
"It's an area of research that we describe as re-education of the immune system.
The first two trials are small - in total about 32 patients have been involved - and more research is needed, but if it shows signs of success another, larger trial will follow.
Even if all goes to plan and the treatment is shown to re-educate the immune system, it may still be another five to 10 years before patients are able to access it.
But Prof Isaacs, who has dedicated his career to the condition, said it would make him and his team immensely proud to have developed the treatment.
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
AI researchers work on detecting arthritis earlier
Newcastle Hospitals
Professor John Isaacs
Versus Arthritis
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NASA Crew-11 astronauts to launch on SpaceX rocket from Kennedy Space Center Thursday
NASA and SpaceX are set to launch the next crew to the International Space Station this week — and the launch will bring a sonic boom. Launch of Crew-11 is currently set for 12:09 p.m. July 31 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A. The crew of four will travel in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Onboard will be NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. If the launch is on time, the four will arrive at the space station no earlier than 3 a.m. August 2. While it will be the first spaceflight for Cardman and Platonov, the other two crew members bring experience. It will be former shuttle astronaut Fincke's fourth spaceflight and the second for Yui. The road to launch has not been without snags for SpaceX. During a July 28 prelaunch test fire of the Falcon 9 rocket, the process was aborted by the computer with only 57 seconds on the clock. SpaceX attributed the failed test fire to 'an error within transporter erector's cradle arm position indication'. SpaceX stated there were no issues with the rocket and Dragon spacecraft, and successfully completed the test fire of the rocket on July 29 − ahead of the July 31 launch. SpaceX Dragon launching NASA's Crew-11 Crew-11 marks the 11th crew rotation and 12th launch overall of NASA astronauts in partnership with SpaceX as part of the Commercial Crew Program. The first was Demo-2 in 2020, which certified the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to ferry NASA astronauts to the ISS. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launching Crew-11 is well traveled. It is the same Dragon which launched Demo-2 in 2020 − Crew Dragon Endeavour. It also launched Crew-2 in 2021, Axiom Space Mission 1 in 2022, Crew-6 in 2023, and Crew-8 in 2024. NASA recently worked with SpaceX to certify Dragon to fly beyond the previously certified five flights per capsule. Eventually, NASA hopes to certify Dragon up to 15 flights per capsule. When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral SpaceX launch from Kennedy Space Center to bring sonic boom How to see the Falcon 9 booster land: After the SpaceX rocket launch, here's how to see the booster land at Cape Canaveral SFS Being a flight to the ISS, SpaceX will be landing the booster of the Falcon 9 rocket back at the Cape Canaveral Landing Zone. Those in the surrounding areas can expect a loud sonic boom to follow the launch, as the booster announces its return. This is due to the booster coming in faster than the speed of sound. Spectators will see the booster land before hearing the thunderous noise. The FLORIDA TODAY Space Team will provide live updates beginning two-hours prior to launch at Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: NASA Crew-11 astronauts to launch on SpaceX rocket Thursday from KSC Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CRNX)' Oral Acromegaly Drug Nears FDA Decision After Strong Phase 3 Data
We recently compiled a list of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stands fifth on our list. Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNX) stands fifth on our list among the best future growth stocks to buy now. It is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oral, small-molecule therapies for rare endocrine diseases and tumors. Its lead candidate, PALSONIFY (paltusotine), is an investigational once-daily oral somatostatin receptor type 2 (SST2) agonist being developed for acromegaly. At the July 2025 ENDO Annual Meeting, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNX) presented long-term data from the open-label extensions of its PATHFNDR-1 and PATHFNDR-2 Phase 3 trials, showing that PALSONIFY maintained durable IGF-1 control, reduced symptom burden, and had a consistent safety profile. These findings strengthen its case as a next-generation oral alternative to current injectable therapies, which are the standard of care for acromegaly. The company is now approaching a major inflection point, with a PDUFA date set for late 2025, potentially making PALSONIFY the first oral treatment approved for acromegaly. This would represent a significant shift in disease management and convenience for patients. A scientist in a laboratory looking into a microscope, researching advances in biopharmaceuticals for central nervous system disorders. Beyond PALSONIFY, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRNX) is advancing other pipeline programs, including Atumelnant, aimed at treating congenital adrenal hyperplasia and ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome, as well as several early-stage endocrine disorder therapies. The corporation also expanded its workforce in July 2025, granting equity awards to 46 new employees to support future growth. While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Common Viruses May Wake Dormant Breast Cancer Cells, Study Finds
Breast cancer patients who have been in remission for years or even decades may still need to be cautious about respiratory infections. Some common viruses may re-awaken a very small number of dormant breast cancer cells within our lungs, according to emerging research. "Dormant cancer cells are like the embers left in an abandoned campfire, and respiratory viruses are like a strong wind that reignites the flames," argues molecular geneticist James DeGregori from the University of Colorado. Related: The research began following the COVID-19 pandemic, when DeGregori and his colleagues began to notice a curious uptick in cancer cases. To find out more, the international team turned to human population studies and mouse models. They found that patients in remission for cancer in the UK Biobank who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 later showed a twofold increase in cancer-related death. "The extent of this increased risk is almost unheard of in epidemiology for cancer," says epidemiologist Roel Vermeulen from Utrecht University in The Netherlands. "It's a significant effect." That's not all researchers found, either. Analyzing a separate breast cancer database from the United States, including nearly 37,000 patients, they discovered that a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a greater than 40 percent increased risk of metastatic breast cancer in the lungs. Studies in mice suggest that viruses might be behind the spread. Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections triggered dormant breast cancer cells in mice to proliferate after only days of infection. Within two weeks, there was "a massive expansion of carcinoma cells into metastatic lesions" by more than 100-fold, write the authors, led by molecular geneticist Shi Chia from the University of Colorado. "Although species differences warrant caution in interpreting mouse data… collectively, these findings underscore the substantial metastatic risk COVID-19 posed to cancer survivors," warn the team. For years now, scientists have suspected that some highly common viruses, like the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), have the potential to trigger certain cancers. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is already known to do this. That's why the HPV vaccine has proved so life-changing for millions. It prevents deadly, viral-associated diseases, like cervical cancer. Since 1936, scientists have been searching for a virus that triggers breast cancer in a similar way, mostly in mice and human population studies. High-risk viruses have been detected in human breast cancer samples. EBV, for instance, is five times higher in breast cancer tissue than in normal tissue. But while the idea that viruses may predispose us to cancer is plausible, research in human cells is limited, and the mechanism underlying the disease spread remains undetermined. The immune system's response to viruses could possibly play a role. After initial remission, a tiny number of breast cancer cells can remain dormant in lung, bone, and liver tissue. Sometimes, inflammation can wake these cancer cells up – and viral respiratory infections, like the flu and COVID-19, can cause inflammation. In the current mouse experiments, the influenza A virus only reawakened dormant cancer cells in the lung if they triggered an increase in inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6. The same was true of the coronavirus. The findings suggest that the immune system's response to viruses breeds the perfect environment for cancer to proliferate. "What our data suggest is that if you are a cancer patient who has these dormant cells, you may end up living a normal life and dying with these dormant cells, instead of dying because those dormant cells awakened," says DeGregori. "But if you get a respiratory virus like influenza or COVID, your chance of dying from those dormant cells awakening is much greater." If that's true, then it will be vital to protect the millions of breast cancer survivors out there who may face an increased risk of relapse if they get sick. Further research is needed to see if vaccination against influenza or COVID-19 can help. The study was published in Nature. Related News Study Reveals The Shocking Amount of Plastic We Breathe in Every Day Researchers Identified New Blood Group After 50 Year Mystery Sleepiness Could Be Triggered by a Power Overload in Our Brain Solve the daily Crossword
