Researchers use an experimental drug to reverse the effects of systemic sclerosis
· News-MedicalSystemic sclerosis, also called scleroderma, is a chronic, life-threatening condition that scars the skin, lungs, heart and other organs. Because there is no cure or known cause for the disease, which affects about 100,000 people in the U.S., treatments focus on relieving symptoms.
"That's why we are so excited about our findings," said Eduardo Marbán, MD, PhD, executive director of the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai and corresponding author of the study. "The basic immune system pathway driving systemic sclerosis is blocked by this new drug, making it a potential future therapy."
Investigators tested the experimental drug, called TY1, on immune cells collected from patients with systemic sclerosis. They found that the drug reduced inflammation and DNA damage in those cells. When they administered TY1 to laboratory mice with a condition that mimics systemic sclerosis, investigators found that heart function and physical activity improved, and scar formation in organs was reduced.
TY1, which was developed at Cedars-Sinai, is a synthetic version of a type of noncoding ribonucleic acid (RNA), a molecule that regulates cellular processes. After using TY1 to reduce tissue damage in laboratory experiments addressing heart attacks, as reported last year, investigators sought to determine if TY1 might have a similar effect on autoimmune disorders.
Investigators are currently preparing an investigational new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the first step toward obtaining approval for studying TY1 in people with systemic sclerosis.
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