Prediction of treatment outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis using multiomics analysis and machine learning

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K16359
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 54020:Connective tissue disease and allergy-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Fujii Takayuki 京都大学, 医学研究科, 特定病院助教 (30911557)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 関節リウマチ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes arthritis and consequent joint destruction due to abnormalities in the immune system. Recently, treatment methods have been established and arthritis and joint destruction can be significantly suppressed, but there are cases in which patients do not respond to therapeutic drugs and cases in which joint destruction progresses even after treatment. The treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis can be improved if we can develop a treatment method that is tailored to each patient's needs. We investigated the possibility of making predictions by measuring genes and cytokine proteins in the blood before and after administration of a therapeutic drug called a biologic agent. We found that the expression of certain cell-derived genes in the blood is associated with increased joint destruction, even when treated with biologics. Also, we developed AI model that predicts RA developement.

Free Research Field

医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

関節リウマチは治療が進歩した反面、治療に難渋する例や関節破壊が進行する例が見られます。本研究では、関節リウマチに対する生物学的製剤治療前の遺伝子解析により、治療がうまくいくかどうかある程度予測することができることがわかりました。また、AIモデルの研究では、関節リウマチ発症を予測するモデルを開発することができました。
関節リウマチの治療は発症早期ほど予後がよいことが知られています。また関節リウマチの治療成績は関節破壊の程度と密接に関連します。関節リウマチを早く発見し、または患者個人に応じた治療薬が選択できれば、関節破壊による身体機能低下を抑制することは、医療介護関連費を抑制することにも繋がります。