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Arthritis
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis commonly refers to a group of conditions that are characterized by inflammation, swelling, stiffness, or pain of joints. These conditions can have a variety of etiologies, including (but not limited to) autoimmune disease, infections, and even environmental exposures. Arthritis symptoms can range in severity from mild disease to extremely debilitating disease and may progress over time. Depending on the type of arthritis, symptoms may not be limited to the joints and may affect internal organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
Types of Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune form of arthritis that is characterized by chronic inflammation and targeting of the immune system towards healthy joint tissue. Unfortunately, what triggers the development of RA is still widely unknown and an area of active research. Genetics have been shown as a potential predisposing factor, but studies suggest an unknown environmental trigger is still required to develop the autoimmune disease. With RA, the initial stages of the disease involve inflammation of smaller joints but later spread to the larger joints over the course of the disease, and in some cases, to other areas of the body.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Contrary to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) specifically affects individuals diagnosed with psoriasis, a skin condition that affects millions of adults worldwide and causes plaques and a scale-like appearance on the skin. While the exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, it is characterized by inflammation and is considered an autoimmune disease. Typically, PsA will develop roughly ten years after the original psoriasis disease presents, however, some individuals may develop PsA first. PsA can range in severity (similar to the other arthritis conditions listed here) but does not appear to correlate with the severity of the initial psoriasis condition. While a cure is still out of reach for PsA, many therapies are hitting the market to help manage symptoms associated with the disease and slow disease progression.
Reactive Arthritis
Unlike other arthritic conditions described here, reactive arthritis has a clearer cause: infection. As the name suggests, following an infection, arthritis may develop as a reaction to the immune system attempting to clear the infection. Because infections can create excessive inflammation as the immune system tries to control the microbe from spreading, this inflammation can have off-target effects, including inflammation resulting in swelling or pain in the joints. Fortunately, reactive arthritis typically clears within a few months of the initial onset and does not establish chronicity unlike the other arthritis types described here.
Osteoarthritis
The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, also affects millions of adults worldwide. However, this disease is referred to as the “wear and tear” disease because it occurs naturally over time as a result of the breakdown of the cartilage between bones within joints. If allowed to progress uncontrolled, this will eventually lead to bone rubbing on bone which can cause significant pain and distress. Thankfully, symptoms of osteoarthritis are manageable, but reversal of the wear and tear is not possible currently. While genetics may predispose an individual to developing osteoarthritis, prevention is the best medicine and doctors recommend staying active and maintaining a healthy weight to limit load on certain joints.
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a particular form of arthritis that targets the spine, but other joints may be involved. AS results from severe inflammation of the vertebrae of the spine and this inflammation can lead to the fusing of these inflamed vertebrae in severe cases. The exact cause of AS is still unknown, but current research suggests those with HLA type B27 may be at increased genetic risk for the development of AS. Additionally, individuals with excessive gastrointestinal infections seem to also be at increased risk of developing AS; this association has led to research investigating a gut-barrier disruption hypothesis where gut microbiota leave the intestinal tract and enter the bloodstream, permanently altering the homeostatic immune responses in an otherwise healthy host.
Gout
Gout, also known as metabolic arthritis, is a condition where uric acid builds up, forming urate crystals in the affected joints of an individual. Since gout can affect anyone, medical professionals focus on reducing risk factors including obesity, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic diseases. Researchers have identified foods rich in purines, which break down into uric acid in the body, as a potential source for flare-ups. Because gout also has no cure at the moment, treatment is limited to reducing all possible risk factors and potential triggers and symptom management.
While many subtypes of arthritis exist, no single therapy or treatment has been effective against all arthritis types, enhancing the complexity of treatment and research for arthritis.
Common Reagents Used in Arthritis Research
If you or your research lab are conducting arthritis research and need assistance finding suitable reagents for your research, contact Biorbyt Scientific Support here.