Bouncer” Protein Halts Rheumatoid Arthritis

Researchers at the Feinberg School of Medicine have figured out how the immune cells of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients become hyperactive and attack their joints and bones. They found that the cells lose their “bouncer,” a burly protein that keeps immune cells from going into their destructive mode through the cartilage and bone. When the scientists developed and injected an imitation of the protein into an animal model of RA, it halted the disease progress. The findings were reported on in Arthritis & Rheumatism.