Scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have discovered that rare and dangerous psoriatic arthritis (Arthritis mutilans) may be related to the action of a special enzyme that produces bone-damaging oxygen radicals. results published In the journal EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) Molecular Medicine.
Debilitating psoriatic arthritis (Arthritis mutilans) is a rare and very serious form of psoriasis characterized by destruction of the bone tissue and joint structures of the fingers and toes. It is stated that the exact cause of this pathology has not yet been determined. To fill this knowledge gap, Swedish scientists focused on finding genetic risk factors in the development of this disease.
For the study, researchers analyzed the genomes of 61 patients with psoriatic arthritis. They found that four of the subjects were carriers of a rare variant of the NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) gene. He hypothesized the presence in the body of a specific enzyme that produces oxygen radicals.
Scientists explained that oxygen radicals are reactive molecules that can cause cell damage. NOX4 also plays a role in the formation of cells called osteoclasts that destroy bone tissue. According to researchers, the combined effect of osteoclasts and oxygen radicals is the cause of damage to bones and joints in psoriatic arthritis. They hope that their discovery will contribute to the development of new treatments based on gene therapy for this disease.
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Source: Gazeta
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