New Trends in Treatment of Arthritis

Abstract

Schistosoma is a genus belonging to the phylum Platyhelminthes. It is comprised of species commonly referred to as schistosomes or blood flukes. One of their distinctive characteristics is sexual dimorphism. The course of the disease can be divided in three stages: a migratory, an acute and a chronic stage. The symptoms are due to an acute systemic hypersensitivity response which results in fever, chills, tiredness, diarrhea, arthralgia and myalgia. Intestinal schistosomiasis is essentially due to S. mansoni infection and it has been reported as well in some S. haematobium cases. The proclivity for schistosomes to orchestrate immunomodulatory effects on the host immune system combined with the concept of the hygiene hypothesis form the basis for developing therapeutics to protect individuals against the onset of various forms of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Chronic S. mansoni infection causes a strong regulatory response, including increased IL-10 production. IL-10 was initially classified as a Th2-type cytokine but was later recognized as the primary cytokine of the regulatory immune response. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, symmetrical, inflammatory autoimmune disease that initially affects small joints, progressing to larger joints, and eventually the skin, eyes, heart, kidneys, and lungs. Often, the bone and cartilage of joints are destroyed, and tendons and ligaments weaken. Arthritis of joints involves inflammation of the synovial membrane. Chitosan nanoparticles control drug release, improve the biodegradation of proteins, and enhance the assimilation of hydrophilic substances through the epithelial layer.