New treatment hope as link to arthritis uncovered

SIMILARITIES have been found between rheumatoid arthritis and Covid which researchers hope could help in developing new coronavirus treatments.

It follows a study, led by Glasgow University, which found some rheumatoid arthritis patients who became infected with SARSCoV-2 – the virus which causes Covid-19 – had ‘flares’ of joint pain and inflammation.

The research identified cells – known as a specific pathogenic macrophage cluster – in the lungs of patients with severe Covid and in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis.

Macrophages are responsible for destroying pathogens and dying cells but, when over-activated, can induce tissue damage.

Molecular investigation showed these specialised cells produce a substance called SPP1 – which can trigger inflammation – with high levels found in the blood of Covid patients. Some people who recovered and tested negative for the virus, but had long Covid symptoms, still had abnormally high blood levels of SPP1, said the researchers.

Dr Mariola Kurowska-Stolarska, from Glasgow University, said: ‘Our investigation is promising because understanding these mechanisms which drive features of Covid19 can help open the prospect for new treatment strategies.’

The head of research delivery at charity Versus Arthritis, Dr Caroline Aylott, said: ‘In both rheumatoid arthritis and Covid-19, the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, causing inflammation and damage.

‘This research is a step forward in understanding why inflammation continues in both rheumatoid arthritis and Covid-19.’

The study – funded by the Medical Research Council, Versus Arthritis UK and the Italian ministry of health – was published in biomedical journal JCI Insight.