AKT AND REGULATION OF RA SYNOVIAL FIBROBLAST APOPTOSIS

摘要

The administration of an Akt inhibitor in a suitable carrier to a rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast affords a process for inducing rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast apoptosis. The Akt inhibitor is administered either as an active molecule or as a gene sequence expressible within rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast cells. The gene sequence can be encompassed within a gene vector such as an adenovirus. A process for assaying rheumatoid arthritis drug candidates for apoptosis affect includes exposing a culture of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast cells to a drug candidate and monitoring apoptosis in the culture in the presence of the drug candidate. Apoptosis in the culture is compared to apoptosis induced in a duplicate culture in the presence of a known Akt inhibitor.