2014 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: Innate Immunity at the Core of Rheumatic Disease

“It is important to recognize that nutrition and fitness have metabolic effects to decrease tissue AMPK activity that are quite pertinent to gout,” Dr. Terkeltaub said. Dietary and alcohol excesses, obesity, diabetes and poor physical fitness all have an effect, whereas nutritional constraint and physical fitness will elevate AMPK activity. Beyond colchicine, several drugs already in the clinic have the potential to limit innate immune inflammation, in large part, by activating AMPK. Those include methotrexate, nonacetylated salicylates, high-dose aspirin and metformin. “There is substantial potential for natural and pharmacologic means to limit harmful innate immune responses more safely and effectively by increasing tissue AMPK activity, such as in gout, osteoarthritis and certain other chronic joint diseases.”

Kathy L. Holliman, MEd, is a medical writer based in Beverly, Mass.

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