Compositions and Methods for the Systemic Treatment of Arthritis

Abstract

The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating arthritic joints found in patients with autoinflammation, e.g., systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis, by administering at the site of inflammation a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent that reduces or blocks the bioavailability of interleukin-1β.

1 . A method for treating a joint with systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis comprising administering to the joint a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of one or more active agents that reduces the bioavailability of interleukin-1β. 
     
     
         2 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent comprises a single-stranded RNA molecule, a double-stranded RNA molecule, an antisense RNA molecule, a small inhibitory RNA (siRNA) molecule, or an inhibitory RNA molecule (RNAi) designed to reduce the expression of interleukin-1β receptor. 
     
     
         13 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A composition for treating SOJIA comprising a therapeutically effective amount of one or more active agents adapted for delivery to a joint that reduces the inflammation of the joint affected with SOJIA. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more active agents are selected from: one or more modifiers of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) gene transcription; one or more modifiers of IL-1β gene translation; one or more siRNAs that target the expression of IL-1β; one or more IL-1β receptors blockers; one or more interleukin-1 receptor antagonist proteins; one or more interleukin-1 receptor antagonist peptides; one or more active agents that modify the release of IL-1β; one or more antibodies that neutralize IL-1β; one or more antibodies that blocks an IL-1β receptor; one or more recombinant, naturally occurring IL-1 receptor antagonists; one or more anion transport inhibitors, lipoxins and alpha-tocopherol that inhibit the release of IL-1β; one or more opioids that inhibits a proteolytic enzyme that converts the inactive IL-1β precursor to its mature, active form; one or more antibodies that neutralizes the biological function of IL-1β, mixtures and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising one or more active agents are selected from: one or more modifiers of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) gene transcription; one or more modifiers of IL-1β gene translation; one or more siRNAs that target the expression of IL-1β; one or more IL-1β receptors blockers; one or more interleukin-1 receptor antagonist proteins; one or more interleukin-1 receptor antagonist peptides; one or more active agents that modify the release of IL-1β; one or more antibodies that neutralize IL-1β; one or more antibodies that blocks an IL-1β receptor; one or more recombinant, naturally occurring IL-1 receptor antagonists; one or more anion transport inhibitors, lipoxins and alpha-tocopherol that inhibit the release of IL-1β; one or more opioids that inhibits a proteolytic enzyme that converts the inactive IL-1β precursor to its mature, active form; one or more antibodies that neutralizes the biological function of IL-1β, mixtures and combinations thereof adapted to treat joint autoinflammation. 
     
     
         22 . A method of monitoring a therapeutic response of SOJIA comprising the steps of monitoring the fever, rash, arthritis, white blood cell count and the sedimentation rate of white blood cells after treatment using the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . A method of monitoring a therapeutic response of SOJIA comprising the steps of monitoring the fever, rash, arthritis, white blood cell count and the sedimentation rate of white blood cells after treatment using the composition of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         24 . A method of treating an animal suffering from an autoinflammation comprising administering a therapeutic agent to an animal suffering from autoinflammation, wherein that agent comprises an antagonist of Interleukin 1β function in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the antagonist suppresses the autoinflammation.