Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent and enduring autoimmune disorder that impacts a significant number of individuals globally. With a mission to help global pharmaceutical companies combat this debilitating condition, our company is at the forefront of rheumatoid arthritis drug and therapy development services.
Introduction to Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune condition characterized by persistent inflammation in the joints. This chronic inflammation not only results in joint pain, swelling, and stiffness but can also give rise to systemic complications involving other organs like the lungs, heart, and eyes. RA typically affects the synovial joints, leading to destructive changes and functional impairments. Certain variations in the HLA-DRB1 gene, known as shared epitope alleles, confer a higher risk of developing RA. These alleles are associated with the presentation of specific autoantigens to the immune system, leading to an exaggerated immune response directed against the individual's own tissues.
Fig.1 Immunological processes in the pre-rheumatoid arthritis phase. (Radu, A.F., et al., 2021)
Drug Discovery and Development for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Developing effective drugs and therapies for RA is crucial to alleviate symptoms and slow down disease progression. Several classes of medications are currently used in the therapeutics of RA, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and biologic DMARDs. Traditional DMARDs, such as methotrexate (MTX), are the cornerstone of RA therapeutics. They work by suppressing the immune system and reducing inflammation. Biologic DMARDs, including Tocilizumab, Rituximab, and JAK inhibitors, target specific components of the immune system involved in RA pathogenesis.
At our company, we are committed to advancing the development of innovative drugs and therapies for RA. If you would like to learn more about our therapy development platform, please click on the link below.
Our Services
Our comprehensive range of services covers diagnostics development, therapy development, animal model development, and preclinical research services. Our therapy development services focus on discovering and developing novel therapeutics for RA. Our team of experts combines their deep understanding of the disease with cutting-edge technologies to identify and validate potential drug targets. Through target identification, drug design, and optimization, we aim to provide innovative therapeutic development solutions.
Animal Models
Induced Disease Model Development Services
Collagen-induced Arthritis (CIA) Model
Our company specializes in CIA model development services, ensuring the reproducibility and reliability of this model. It involves immunization of susceptible strains of mice with type II collagen (CII) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). This induces an autoimmune response against CII, leading to joint inflammation and destruction, resembling human RA.
Antigen-induced Arthritis (AIA) Model
Antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) model involves the injection of specific antigens, such as methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA), into the joints of experimental animals. This elicits an inflammatory response, leading to joint inflammation and damage. Our company offers AIA model development services, providing researchers with a versatile tool to explore various aspects of RA.
Proteoglycan-induced Arthritis (PGIA) Model
Our company excels in proteoglycan-induced arthritis (PGIA) model development services. The PGIA model is based on the immunization of susceptible animals with cartilage proteoglycans, such as aggrecan. This model closely resembles the immune responses observed in human RA, including T-cell activation, synovial inflammation, and joint destruction.
Genetically Engineered Model Development Services
- Human Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Transgenic Model
Our company has successfully developed transgenic mouse models expressing wild-type and modified human TNF-α transgenes. These mice exhibit synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, pannus formation, cartilage destruction, and bone erosion, mirroring the characteristics of RA in humans. - Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (IL-1Ra) Knockout Model
By utilizing IL-1Ra knockout mice, our company facilitates the study of IL-1 signaling and its impact on the development and progression of RA. These knockout mice spontaneously develop polyarthritis resembling human RA, complete with synovial and periarticular inflammation, articular destruction, and the presence of autoantibodies.
Humanized Model Development Services
Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) play a crucial role in RA pathogenesis through their aggressive migration and matrix invasion. Our company has developed a novel model that measures the migration of synoviocytes isolated from patients with RA in SCID mice. By inducing subcutaneous inflammation with CFA in SCID mice and injecting RA-FLSs around the inflamed site, researchers can study the behavior of human synoviocytes in vivo.
In Vitro Models
Cell-Based Model Development Services
In vitro studies often begin with 2D monolayer cell cultures due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Our company has developed optimized cultivation procedures using specific plate coatings, such as poly (L-lactic acid), to maintain the stability of chondrocyte phenotypes in 2D monolayer cultures.
3D Tissue Engineering Model Development Services
Our company offers a range of 3D tissue engineering approaches that provide significant advantages over 2D cultures. These approaches include scaffold-free 3D techniques, natural scaffold-based approaches utilizing hyaluronic-acid-based scaffolds, and synthetic scaffold-based approaches using poly-(lactide)-based scaffolds.
Our Advantages
Time-saving services with high efficiency
Fast and cost-efficient workflow
Timely project reporting and after-sales service
Professional and experienced multidisciplinary experts
Careful design and transparent operation process
Superior data quality and fast turnaround
Our team of experienced scientists utilizes these models to investigate the underlying mechanisms of RA, test therapeutic interventions, and assess the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drug candidates. In addition to the services and models listed above, we also provide customized services and disease model development services to meet your specific needs. If you are interested in our services, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Reference
- Radu, A.F., and Bungau, S. G. "Management of rheumatoid arthritis: an overview." Cells 10.11 (2021): 2857.
- Dedmon, L. E. "The genetics of rheumatoid arthritis." Rheumatology 59.10 (2020): 2661-2670.