NEWS:Research Yields Clues to Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Research Yields Clues to Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis

08.31.06, 12:00 AM ET

THURSDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists say they've spotted

potential new cellular targets for treating lupus, rheumatoid

arthritis and other autoimmune disorders.

In research with mice, Japanese scientists found that blood platelet

function plays an important role in an autoimmune kidney disease

called crescentic glomerulonenephritis.

Their study, published in the September issue of the journal

Arthritis & Rheumatism, also sheds light on the involvement of

BLOC-1, which controls lysosomes, tiny organelles that contain

digestive enzymes needed to maintain healthy cells function.

" The profound role of BLOC-1 appears to be platelet-specific among

immuno-inflammatory cell types. BLOC-1 is a possible therapeutic

target for suppression of platelet functions without compromising

physiologic immune responses, " said researchers at Tohoku University

Graduate School of Medicine.

In another study, Finnish scientists identified a new type of

adhesion molecule (amine oxidase, copper containing 3 - AOC3) that's

highly expressed on vessels of inflamed human joint tissue.

AOC3, also called vascular adhesion protein 1, spurs inflammation by

interfering with the infiltration of leukocytes (white blood cells)

into rheumatoid joints, the study authors said.

More information

The U.S. National Women's Health Information Center has more about

autoimmune diseases.

http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2006/08/31/

hscout534623.html