Temporal Arteritis (TA)
Temporal arteritis (TA) also referred to as giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a type of vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) that affects the arteries of the scalp, neck, and arms. Specialized drug and therapy development services are highly important for improving and accelerating TA research. We are more than capable of fulfilling your requirements in drug and therapy development for Temporal Arteritis therapy.
Introduction to Temporal Arteritis
Vasculitis is most common in women above the age of 50 and particularly in women. Moderate to large arteries are targeted by this inflammatory disorder and among the large arteries most involve the temporal arteries. As a result, severe complications like blindness which is irreversible could be experienced because the ophthalmic artery is affected.
Pathogenesis of Temporal Arteritis
Both adaptive and natural immune responses contribute to the pathogenesis of temporal arteritis. It begins with the activation of vascular dendritic cells which, in turn, activate T cells and macrophages, causing granulomatous inflammation in the arterial wall. Dysregulation of cytokine production processes is one of the main events, especially the production of Interleukin Six and Interleukin Seventeen that foster inflammation and harm the blood vessels. Other recent studies go further and note a contribution of different populations of cells, such as T cells, macrophages, and the newly suggested B cells and neutrophils, in maintaining inflammation and causing vascular remodeling.
Fig.1 Model of sequential steps in pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis. (Stamatis, P., et al., 2022)Diagnostics Development of Temporal Arteritis
The stark elevations of inflammatory markers also alongside RHF and symptoms like headache makes diagnosis of TA fairly straightforward. Changes in the temporal artery can be assessed by ultrasound or even PET scan, but the most accurate TA diagnosis is made via biopsy of the artery. Like all procedures that are most accurate, the biopsy is the most invasive and carries the risk of false negative results. The scope of molecular diagnostics alongside imaging techniques is increasing the accuracy of identifying Temporal Arteritis and facilitating early treatment so that the dire consequences of severe vision impairment head off.
Therapy Development of Temporal Arteritis
Several small molecule drugs are currently being considered for their ability to modulate inflammatory processes in TA. For example, methotrexate, which is used for rheumatoid arthritis, is being studied as an adjunct treatment in TA to achieve steroid-sparing and side-effect mitigation.
Immunomodulatory cell-based therapies have employed mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a target of choice for tissue regeneration and immune tolerance. The phase of clinical trials is still preliminary for the use of MSCs for tissue vascular inflammatory processes in patients with TA.
Cytokine or cell receptor-specific monoclonal antibodies are an excellent therapeutic approach in TA. Tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor blocker, is useful in ameliorating symptoms and minimizing the use of corticosteroids. Ustekinumab, a monoclonal antibody against the p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23, is under study for treatment of nonresponsive patients.
Gene therapies are still at their infancy but show promise in treating TA via the direct alteration of inflammatory genetic drivers. Work is being done on gene cutting technologies to possibly change the expression of inflammatory genes that are key to TA pathogenesis. With time, these methodologies can make it possible to carry out corrective activities at the roots of inflammation.
Our Services
Our company provides services covering all aspects of diagnostic and therapy design for Temporal Arteritis. With the analysis of the disease's molecular genetics, we perform biomarker discovery and therapy stratification.
Platforms of Temporal Arteritis Therapy Development
Animal Models of TA
To support your research objectives, we offer animal model services to evaluate the potential therapies and their corresponding efficacy and safety. With our facilities, we seek to enhance the speed to which promising therapeutic methods are transacted from the laboratory to application.
| Non-Genetically Engineering Models | ||
| Our company specializes in delivering top-notch services to create NON-GEMs. We provide diverse model choices customized to meet specific research needs related to Temporal Arteritis. | ||
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| Genetically Engineered Models | ||
| Our expertise in genetic engineering techniques allows us to generate accurate and reliable models that recapitulate the genetic alterations observed in human Temporal Arteritis. | ||
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| Optional Species | Mice, Rats, Non-human primates, Others | |
Our wide ranging services also include additional animal models designed for particular signaling pathways and molecular targets of interest.
If our services resonate with you, we invite you to contact us whenever works best for you. Let's discuss customizing our solutions to align seamlessly with your objectives and aspirations.
References
- Stamatis, P., et al., "Pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis with focus on cellular populations." Front Med (Lausanne), (2022). 9: p. 1058600.
- Weyand, C.M. and Goronzy, J.J., "Immunology of Giant Cell Arteritis." Circ Res, (2023). 132(2): p. 238-250.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.