Abstract: The invention encompasses a novel method of treating an inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and novel methods of identifying and screening for drugs useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and their clinical symptoms. The inventors have made the discovery that the activity of galectin-3, a ?-galactoside-binding lectin known to have an effect on some cancers, has a significant impact on the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms of an inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, may be alleviated by administering a compound that inhibits the activity of galectin-3.

Abstract: The invention encompasses novel methods of treating rheumatoid arthritis and its symptoms and novel methods of identifying and screening for drugs useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and its clinical symptoms. Targeted manipulation of a computer model of a human rheumatic joint provided the surprising result that cross-linking soluble Fas-ligand (sFasL) has a significant impact on the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may be alleviated by administering a sFasL-specific cross-linker.