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Innovative Approach to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Circadian Rhythms

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU Medicine) have made a groundbreaking advancement in the treatment of inflammatory diseases by leveraging the body’s internal circadian clock. This innovative technique enables medication to be administered at the optimal time to address inflammation linked to conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. By using tissue implants embedded with genetically modified stem cells, the team has developed a system that releases anti-inflammatory drugs just as inflammation levels peak in mouse models.

Dubbed “chronogenetics,” this method utilizes a synthetic gene circuit programmed to activate when circadian signals indicate a rise in inflammation. The research findings were published on February 7 in Nature Communications.

Inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is often initiated by variations in infection-fighting proteins that naturally fluctuate throughout the day, guided by the body’s biological clock and the 24-hour light-dark cycle. The research team, led by Farshid Guilak, the Mildred B. Simon Research Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, created a unique implant featuring reprogrammed stem cells within cartilage constructs that respond to these biological cues.

In trials, the gene-circuit-equipped implants were effective in managing inflammatory episodes for up to a month in mice. Notably, these systems showcased adaptability; when the sleep patterns of the mice were altered, the implanted cells adjusted to the new circadian rhythm without delay.

For human patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, painful flare-ups can occur during the early morning hours, specifically around 3 a.m., posing challenges for timely symptom management. If this chronogenetic technique can be successfully translated to human applications, it may allow for precise treatment of rheumatoid arthritis aligned with the body’s natural rhythms, substantially enhancing patient care.

As part of the ongoing development process, Guilak has filed for a patent to secure the technique. Furthermore, he is a stakeholder and employee at Cytex Therapeutics Inc., which is involved in the advancement of the cartilage-based constructs utilized in this research.

More information: Lara Pferdehirt et al, A synthetic chronogenetic gene circuit for programmed circadian drug delivery, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56584-5

Citation: Study uses body’s clock to deliver medication precisely when needed (2025, April 6) retrieved 6 April 2025 from https://phys.org/news/2025-04-body-clock-medication-precisely.html

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