Anchor: Scientists may have taken a step closer to finding a cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Korean researchers say they can now explain how sufferers fall foul of the chronic autoimmune disease.
Our Kim Soyon has more on the findings.
 
Report: Korean researchers have discovered the cause of bone and cartilage break down in rheumatic disorder.
 
A joint research team from the Catholic University St. Mary's Hospital and Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology said it has found key regulators responsible for joint destruction.
 
Professor Kim Wan-uk of the team explained fibroblast-like synoviocytes, or FLS cells located in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients have invasive characteristics, similar to cancer cells, which destroy cartilage and bone.
 
Using global gene expression profiling, the researchers identified the molecular signature and biological network models underlying the pathologic features of the FLS cells.
 
The researchers analyzed the rheumatoid cells and confirmed that invasive and destructive characteristics sharply reduced when certain genes known as Periostin (POSTN) and Twist-related protein 1 (TWIST1) were removed.
 
The team claimed the findings provide a comprehensive and systematic basis for mechanisms explaining rheumatoid arthritis and identify therapeutic targets for the autoimmune disease.

The chief researcher said the selective suppression of the destructive nature of synoviocytes could pave the way to a complete cure of rheumatoid arthritis.
 
The findings were published in the December issue of the U.S. Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Kim Soyon, KBS World Radio News.#