Experimental therapy reverses arthritis symptoms in mice

Immature myeloid cells or M-MDSCs can shut down arthritis, suggests a new study.

Using a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis, scientists have discovered that M-MDSCs might be an effective treatment for the disease in humans.

In a report, they show that M-MDSCs are capable of inhibiting T cell proliferation, as well as B cell proliferation and antibody production. As a result, the arthritic mice experienced improvements in their symptoms.

Peng Liu, M.D., Ph.D., said that they hope the study leads to a better understanding of MDSCs' potential in cell-based therapies against autoimmune diseases.

John Wherry, Ph.D., said that cellular therapies using cells from the immune system have been revolutionizing clinical treatments for cancer and other diseases, but typically use T cells. The new studies not only identify a potential role for the myeloid derived M-MDSCs in cellular therapies, but also demonstrate that these types of approaches may be effective in autoimmune diseases."

The study is published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.