Environmental and Dietary Interventions in the Pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Overview

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), the most common form of autoimmune arthritis, is a progressive inflammatory autoimmune disease with unclear causes. The objective of this project was to assess how environmental conditions play a role in the pathogenesis of RA, so that precautionary measures can be taken if the causation of harmful inflammation is linked to these environmental stimuli. To further understand the effect of the environmental factors of temperature, pressure, and humidity on inflammation progression, cultures of synovial cell were analyzed for PGE2 cytokine production, using ELISA, and COX-2 gene expression, measured by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results showed that colder external temperatures caused a 352.29% rise in PGE2 and 414.22% rise in COX-2 of autoimmune predisposed synovial tissue. Low humidity reduced PGE2 by 74.99% and COX-2 by 79.26% in autoimmune predisposed synovial tissue. A T test showed that these findings are statistically significant, with p values of .0002 and .0004 respectively. In conclusion, colder temperatures worsen PGE2 inflammation with the excess COX-2 activity, indicating faster disease progression. Arid climates ameliorate said inflammation and lower COX-2 activity, indicating a reversal in immediate inflammation. Precautionary measures like protecting the body from colder weather and moving to warmer, arid climates could be used as an intervention in slowing, even reversing the pathogenesis of RA, therefore alleviating chronic joint pain, immobility, and in extreme circumstances, paralysis. Additionally, the dietary Vitamin-D supplementation either through food or pure Vitamin-D supplements could be used to reduce autoimmune disease progression.

Competition history

AJAS 2018 Category not listed

Related projects

ISEF · 2017