Grant: Operating Grant - PA: Regional Partnership Program : Manitoba

Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by cartilage and bone destruction. Current treatment options for inflammatory arthritis inhibit critical molecules that are important in both inflammation and in efficient immune functioning. Thus, these therapies often result in patients becoming vulnerable to increased risk of infections and sometimes development of cancers. Therefore, alternate strategies are needed to overcome the limitations of current immunosuppressive therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases. We have shown that small peptides known as innate defence regulator (IDR) peptides have the potential to suppress inflammation in arthritis without compromising the immune responses required for resolution of infections. We have demonstrated the ability of one such IDR peptide in an animal model of arthritis. We have established screening tools and animal models for examining the activity of IDR peptides in arthritis. In this project, we will comprehensively study the biological effects of the IDR peptide in a mouse model of arthritis. We will also identify the specific cellular proteins that are involved in the IDR peptide activity to control the disease process in arthritis. In addition, this study will potentially identify new targets for anti-inflammatory therapeutics to interfere in the complex process of chronic inflammation. Overall, this study will strongly support future research into alternate therapeutics for inflammatory arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases.