Enzyme injection to calm knee inflammation in osteoarthritis
Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis via Intra-articular Delivery of an Immunosuppressive Enzyme
An injected enzyme aims to reduce knee inflammation and pain for people with knee osteoarthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11334277 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers plan to deliver an enzyme called IDO directly into the knee joint to convert tryptophan into anti-inflammatory kynurenines and shift immune cells toward a calmer state. To keep the enzyme working in the joint longer, they will attach it to a tissue-binding protein so it stays anchored instead of being cleared away. The team will test how well the anchored enzyme reduces joint inflammation and pain, how long its effects last, and optimize dosing and delivery methods. Work will include laboratory studies and preclinical models to prepare the approach for possible future human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis who experience inflammatory joint pain and are eligible for intra-articular treatments would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: Patients whose knee pain is primarily mechanical rather than inflammatory, or those with advanced joint destruction who need joint replacement, may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide longer-lasting, local inflammation control in the knee that reduces pain and may slow joint damage without causing widespread immune suppression.
How similar studies have performed: Local immunomodulation has shown anti-inflammatory effects in other settings, but anchoring an IDO enzyme inside the joint is a novel approach that has not yet been tested in people.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Allen, Kyle D — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Allen, Kyle D
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.