Pathogenesis and therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Principal Investigator:

• Dr Richard O. Williams - richard.o.williams@imperial.ac.uk (personal page)

The principle objective of this group is to develop novel strategies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and to gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease. This work includes studies into the therapeutic effects of cytokine inhibition and costimulatory molecule blockade in experimental arthritis. In addition, we have carried out a number of studies in which we have examined the potential of combination therapy to downregulate pathogenic immune responses in arthritis.

General References: 

• Williams, R. O., Marinova-Mutafchieva, L., Mauri, C., Mason, L. J., Walmsley, M., Taylor, P. C., Feldmann, M. & Maini, R. N. (2000b).
  A comparative study into the mechanisms of action of anti-TNFa, anti-CD4 and combined anti-TNFa/anti-CD4 treatment in early collagen-induced arthritis.
  Arthritis Rheum 43, 638-644.

• Williams, R. O., Marinova-Mutafchieva, L., Feldmann, M. & Maini, R. N. (2000a).
  Evaluation of TNFa and IL-1 blockade in collagen-induced arthritis and comparison with combined anti-TNFa/anti-CD4 therapy.
  J Immunol 165, 7240-7245.

• Mauri, C., Feldmann, M. & Williams, R. O. (2003).
  Down-regulation of Th1-mediated pathology in experimental arthritis by stimulation of the Th2 arm of the immune response.
  Arthritis Rheum 48, 839-845.