FAST FACT Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks, can cause Lyme arthritis if left untreated* No evidence for alcohol The early bird Early research findings from studying the parasitic worm product ES-62 are positive for the development of arthritis treatments. Research by Professors Margaret and William Harnett and their teams at the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde has found that an anti-inflammatory molecule ES-62, which is a product secreted by a parasitic worm, can prevent arthritis in mice. It does that by acting on both the immune system and joint cells. Parasitic worms, also known as helminths, can live in several parts of the body from just under our skin to in our intestines. Although this might not sound like a wonderful new treatment, scientists have found that small doses of these worms may actually have some health benefits. The research shows: n Cells in the immune system and joints are converted to stable safe forms that switch off inflammation and prevent bone damage n Environmental factors (smoking, infections, diet) thought to be involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis appear to act, at least in part, by disrupting our gut microbiome. This then drives inflammation and bone destruction. n The protection against arthritis afforded by ES-62 happens because it is able to convert the altered gut microbiome in rheumatoid arthritis back to normal These parasitic worms are thought to be able to suppress the inflammation that would normally happen when infection occurs by releasing anti-inflammatory molecules.However, this doesnt stop the immune system responding to other dangerous infections, which means it could have potential as a treatment. This work may, in future, lead to the development of a new class of drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Weve invested 5m in the area of the microbiome (bacteria that live in our bodies), as its increasingly recognised as influencing health and disease. Our microbiome research awards are made up of one prestigious programme grant, five pathfinder awards and two strategic awards.The projects will give support to build expertise in this field of research and progress our understanding of the role of the microbiome in arthritis. Some studies have suggested that moderate alcohol consumption could result in a less severe case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and could increase patients quality of life. However, a 2019 study by Arthritis Care and Research indicates no clear benefit of alcohol consumption in RA, and that the association might be explained by reverse causality. Reverse causality is the cause-and-effect of a two-way relationship. It generally occurs when a heightened risk of disease forces somebody to differ their diet or lifestyle. If these changes happen too late, the causal correlation between dying of a disease and an environmental factor can become confused. The review that Arthritis Care and Research undertook discovered that patients with a higher disease severity steered away from alcohol consumption. Our data shows that when people arent feeling well, they tend not to drink alcohol. While this makes it appear that people who drink are better off, its probably not because the alcohol itself is helping, said Dr Joshua Baker, of the University of Pennsylvania. *www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4443866 News