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 auto-inflammation, 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 IL-1β receptors.

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-1 β by blocking one or more IL-1β receptors. 
     
     
         2 . 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 encode an agent that blocks one or more IL-1β receptors. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is provided at between about 1 to 250 mg per day. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more active agents reduces the fever, rash, arthritis and white blood cell count of a SOJIA patient. 
     
     
         5 . A method for treating a patient with systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis comprising administering to the patient a composition comprising an effective amount of at least one agent capable of reducing or blocking the bioavailability of an interleukin-1β by blocking one or more IL-1β receptors. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the composition reduces the fever, rash, arthritis and white blood cell count of a SOJIA patient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , 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. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the active agent comprises is provided at between about 1 to 250 mg per day.