Combined with steroids, a small protein found in scorpion venom could provide pain relief for arthritis sufferers. This is revealed by a study conducted in the United States.
- Arthritis Pain Relief Treatments Have Significant Side Effects
- A protein from scorpion venom has shown positive effects in the laboratory
While there are already treatments to relieve the pain caused by arthritis — acute and chronic inflammation of the joints — they can lead to significant side effects, sometimes more severe than the disease itself. “Steroids like to go everywhere in the body except where you need them most”believes Dr. James Olson, a member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centerin Seattle, in a item published on the institution’s website.
These peptides “need to get to certain places quickly”
Based on this observation, the scientist sought a way to improve the relief of arthritis, with a minimum of side effects, during a study published in the medical journal Science Translational Medicine. James Olson had been working on enhanced peptides for several years, tiny proteins derived from natural organisms such as violets, sunflowers, snakes, and scorpions.
“I thought to myself that these peptides, which are found in venoms or toxins, must have a really unique biodistribution in the human body.remembers the scientist. If something is using them for predation, they need to get to certain places fast.”
A blend of optimized peptides and steroids
Four years ago, James Olson and his team studied dozens of peptides derived from scorpions and spiders. Objective: to find molecules capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, which isolates the brain from undesirable substances that may be in the bloodstream. The researchers then managed to identify a small protein in the venom of the scorpion, which accumulates rapidly in the articular cartilage.
Then they combined these mini-proteins with steroids to reverse inflammation in rats with arthritis. When given to animals, triamcinolone acetonide has been shown to be effective in treating inflammation, while becoming inactive once in the bloodstream. Result: The rats experienced no detectable side effects.
The long-term goal: cure arthritis
Although this study is promising, it will take a few more years before this discovery can be applied to humans. Indeed, before being able to conduct a clinical trial on patients, scientists will have to conduct other studies and deepen their research in toxicology.
“We believe the steroids have significant potential as a candidate for clinical development, and we are actively exploring other fillers that could be transmitted into the jointssays James Olson. The long-term goal is to deliver molecules that go beyond arthritis control to cure it.”
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