Autoimmunity to collagen in adjuvant arthritis of rats.

Arthritis can be induced in rats by intradermal injection of oil containing bacterial derivatives (adjuvant-induced arthritis) or cartilage collagen (type II collagen-induced arthritis). It was of interest, therefore, to determine whether collagen functions as an autoantigen in rats with adjuvant arthritis. Blood mononuclear cells from the majority of rats with adjuvant arthritis exhibited enhanced thymidine incorporation to homologous types I and II collagens, as well as to purified protein derivative of tuberculin. In contrast, cells from rats remaining nonarthritic after injection of adjuvant did not respond to collagen, although they did react to tuberculin. Similar results were obtained with a radiometric ear assay used to quantify intradermal delayed-type hypersensitivity in vivo. Using passive hemagglutination, autoantibodies to these collagens and their denatured alpha-chains were frequently detected in the sera of rats late in the course of adjuvant arthritis. Rats with inflammation of a hindlimb induced by turpentine did not acquire sensitivity to collagen. These data indicate that autoimmunity to collagen is a common feature of adjuvant- and collagen-induced arthritis, both of which are considered to be mediated by immunologic mechanisms.     

Autoimmunity to type II collagen an experimental model of arthritis

We have found that intradermal injection of native type II collagen extracted from human, chick or rat cartilage induces an inflammatory arthritis in approximately 40% of rats of several strains whether complete Freund's adjuvant or incomplete Freund's adjuvant is used. Type I or III collagen extracted from skin, cartilage proteoglycans and alpha1(II) chains were incapable of eliciting arthritis, as was type II collagen injected without adjuvant. The disease is a chronic proliferative synovitis, resembling adjuvant arthritis in rats and rheumatoid arthritis in humans. Native type II co-lagen modified by limited pepsin digestion still produces arthritis, suggesting that type- specific determinants residing in the helical region of the molecule are responsible for the induction of disease. Since homologous type II collagen emulsified in oil without bacterial preparations regularly causes the disease, this new animal model of arthritis represents a unique example of experimentally-inducible autoimmunity to a tissue component.     

Passive Transfer by Cells of Type II Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Rats

To investigate the role of immunologic hypersensitivity to collagen in the causation of type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats, passive transfer experiments were performed. Wistar/Lewis rats used in these experiments were demonstrated to be histocompatible by prolonged skin graft survival and mixed lymphocyte cultures. Popliteal lymph node weight assays excluded a potential for graft-vs.-host reactivity in this strain. 9 of 32 naive rats developed arthritis after intravenous receipt of pooled spleen and lymph node cells from donors that had been injected intradermally with type II collagen emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant. This passively transferred synovitis was evident clinically as well as histologically. In control cell transfer experiments involving a total of 97 recipients, transfer of arthritis was shown to require viable cells sensitized to type II collagen. These controls included 17 rats receiving cells from unimmunized donors, 20 recipients of cells from donors injected with incomplete Freund's adjuvant alone, and 24 recipients of cells from rats injected with type I collagen in adjuvant. Deliberate addition of solubilized type II collagen to unsensitized cells at the time of transfer or injection of heat-killed sensitized cells also did not cause arthritis in a total of 36 recipients. These latter two control groups indicate that disease transfer was not the result of antigen carry-over. Intravenous injection of sera from arthritic donors was incapable of passively transferring clinical or histologic synovitis in 30 recipients. Thus, these studies directly implicate immunologic sensitivity to the cartilage type of collagen in the etiology of this autoimmune disease.     

Humoral and Cellular Sensitivity to Collagen in Type II Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Rats

We have recently described a new animal model of arthritis induced by intradermal injection of a distinct type of collagen found in cartilage (type II collagen). Since immunologic sensitivity to collagen could play a role in the pathogenesis of this type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats, the ability of purified types of native collagens to induce cellular and humoral responses was quantified by antigeninduced tritiated thymidine incorporation into lymphocytes by collagen and passive hemagglutination, respectively. Rats injected intradermally with native heterologous or homologous type II collagens in adjuvant developed type-specific cellular as well as humoral reactivity. Types I and III collagens were less immunogenic than was type II. The latter collagen induced brisk cellular and humoral responses that were equivalent whether complete Freund's adjuvant or incomplete Freund's adjuvant were employed. Both responses could be induced by native type II collagens modified by limited pepsin digestion, indicating that they are not attributable to determinants in the telopeptide regions of the molecule. Thus, these studies demonstrate the unique immunogenic as well as arthritogenic properties of the type II collagen molecule and indicate that both result from a helical conformation of its structurally distinct alpha-chains. Further, they suggest that type II collagen may, by humoral or cellular mechanisms, provoke or perpetuate inflammation in other arthritic diseases.     

Synergy between adjuvant arthritis and collagen-induced arthritis in rats

Adjuvant arthritis (AA) in rats is susceptible to cell-mediated passive transfer. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats is susceptible to passive transfer with antibody to type II collagen. We report here the development of strikingly severe arthritis in Lewis rats as the result of synergy between passively transferred antibody to type II collagen from rats with CIA and concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated lymph node or spleen cells from syngeneic rats with AA. Similar synergy was seen in rats with AA given anticollagen antibody, in rats with CIA given Con A-stimulated adjuvant spleen cells, and in rats actively immunized with CII and complete Freund's adjuvant. The synergistic process caused a very severe polyarthritis, characterized by marked swelling and erythema in all the joints of the distal extremities, with histologic and radiographic evidence of early, extensive erosion of articular cartilage. Synergy was apparent if the lymphoid cells from AA rats were given up to 1 mo after a single injection of anticollagen antibody. No synergy was seen when normal rat immunoglobulin or anti-ovalbumin antibody was substituted for anticollagen antibody, when Con A-stimulated lymphoid cells from normal rats or donors with CIA were used, or when Con A-stimulated AA lymphoid cells were irradiated before transfer. Synergy between separate immune effector mechanisms may represent a general phenomenon in the pathogenesis of inflammatory joint disease.     

Adoptive transfer of suppression of arthritis in the mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis. Evidence for a type II collagen-specific suppressor T cell.

This study details the suppressive mechanism involved in the antigen-specific suppression of collagen-induced arthritis. Intravenous injection of 500 micrograms of soluble native type II collagen 3 d before immunization with native type II collagen emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant resulted in animals with decreased in vitro cellular and humoral immune response to native and denatured type II collagen compared with control groups. Control groups were composed of animals preinoculated with saline and type I collagen and established the antigen-specific nature of the observed suppression. Mice with reduced immune responses to type II collagen also were observed to portray little or no erythema and edema associated with collagen-induced arthritis. Adoptive transfer experiments established the requirement of T cells for the suppression of collagen-induced arthritis. Analysis of the phenotype of responding splenic cells in chronic immunotherapeutically suppressed mice in vitro revealed that responding cells were Ly1-2+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) T cells. On the other hand, the cellular phenotype of T cells responding to type II collagen in nonsuppressed collagen-induced arthritic mice was Ly1+2- (helper/inducer T cells). The data indicate that type II collagen-specific T cells are generated on intravenous inoculation of soluble native type II collagen. These cells are observed in type II collagen-immune animals, which are nonarthritic and portray reduced humoral and in vitro cellular immune response to type II collagen. This study suggests that specific suppression of immune responses to type II collagen by T-suppressor cells can be immunotherapeutic in certain forms of arthritis.     

Oleuropein aglycone, an olive oil compound, ameliorates development of arthritis caused by injection of collagen type II in mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oleuropein aglycone, an olive oil compound, on the modulation of the inflammatory response in mice subjected to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). CIA was induced in mice by an intradermal injection of 100 μl of an emulsion containing 100 μg of bovine type II collagen (CII) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) at the base of the tail. On day 21, a second injection of CII in CFA was administered. Mice developed erosive hind paw arthritis when immunized with CII in CFA. Macroscopic clinical evidence of CIA first appeared as periarticular erythema and edema in the hind paws. The incidence of CIA was 100% by day 28 in the CII-challenged mice and the severity of CIA progressed over a 35-day period with resorption of bone. The histopathology of CIA included erosion of the cartilage at the joint. Treatment with oleuropein aglycone starting at the onset of arthritis (day 25) ameliorated the clinical signs at days 26 to 35 and improved histological status in the joint and paw. The degree of oxidative and nitrosative damage was also significantly reduced in oleuropein aglycone-treated mice. Plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines were also significantly reduced by oleuropein aglycone. In addition, we have confirmed the beneficial effects of oleuropein aglycone on an experimental model of CIA in a therapeutic regimen of post-treatment, with treatment started at day 28, demonstrating that oleuropein aglycone exerts an anti-inflammatory effect during chronic inflammation and ameliorates the tissue damage associated with CIA.     

β-内啡肽对胶原诱导关节炎大鼠的免疫调节作用

目的研究β-内啡肽(β-END)对胶原诱导性关节炎(CIA)大鼠的免疫调节作用,为探索β-END治疗类风湿关节炎(RA)提供实验依据。方法采用尾根部皮内多点注射天然Ⅱ型胶原(CⅡ)的方法免疫雌性Wistar大鼠(60只),建立CIA模型。随机取CIA成模大鼠(5只/组)于初次免疫后第14~35天,给予不同浓度的β-END腹腔内注射,定期进行临床、实验室、影像学及病理指标评估。结果不同剂量β-END(0.1、1、5 nmol隔日1次共2周)治疗后CIA大鼠临床、实验室、影像学及病理指标明显缓解;正常鼠β-END给药5 nmol×2周后重要脏器功能、组织学未见明显异常。结论生理浓度的β-END体内可缓解CIA鼠关节局部及全身免疫炎性反应,这使β-END成为有潜力的治疗RA的制剂。     

脊髓背角核因子κB表达与佐剂关节炎大鼠的痛觉过敏

背景:核因子kB作为炎症反应的启动因子,可刺激损伤部位或炎症局部基因的转录,促进炎性因子的产生,导致疼痛的发生,但其在参与慢性炎性疼痛脊髓机制中的作用目前研究甚少.目的:制备稳定的油包水剂型完全弗式佐剂单关节炎大鼠模型,并对大鼠疼痛行为学痛觉过敏及脊髓背角核因子KB表达进行观察和探讨.方法:24只大鼠被随机分为假手术对照组、完全弗氏佐剂组,每组12只.大鼠右踝关节腔内注射含灭活结核杆菌的黏稠油包水型完全弗式佐剂,假手术组注射50 μL生理盐水至大鼠右踝关节腔内,观察大鼠完全弗式佐剂注射前2 d,注射后4,7,14,21,28 d的机械压痛、辐射热痛、关节肿胀周径(内外踝下缘周长)及脊髓背角核因子kB表达的变化.结果与结论:①注射3 h,大鼠右踝关节出现明显肿胀,但局部红、热不明显,注射24 h,右踝关节红肿显著且波及足跖面,并持续4周.②注射4 d～4周,大鼠右踝关节周径在较对侧及注射前显著增加(P＜0.01).⑨与注射前及假手术组相比,完全弗氏佐剂组机械压痛阈值在注射后4 d明显下降,注射后21 d降至最低值(P均＜ 0.01);注射4 d,与注射前相比,完全弗氏佐剂组大鼠息侧辐射热痛阈值明显下降,7 d降至最低点后逐渐稳定,并持续4周(P均＜0.01).④完全弗氏佐剂组大鼠患侧腰段脊髓背角Ⅰ～Ⅵ层核因子KB表达明显高于假手术组(P＜0.01).证实关节腔内注射油包水型完全弗式佐剂可获得稳定的单关节炎疼痛模型,大鼠关节致炎后出现明显的辐射热及压痛痛觉过敏,且持续时间长,痛敏阈值稳定,脊髓背角Ⅰ～Ⅵ层核因子kB表达明显升高.     

Paradoxical effects of cyclosporin A on collagen arthritis in rats

The effect of the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A (CS-A) on collagen arthritis in Sprague-Dawley rats is investigated. A 14-d course of CS-A treatment at doses of 15 mg/kg per day or more, begun on the same day as type II collagen immunization, suppressed the development of arthritis as well as humoral and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test responses to type II collagen, possibly by interfering with helper T cells. Additional studies demonstrated that CS-A treatment only during the induction phase of immunity proved to be successful. When CS-A treatment was started only during the immediately preclinical phase of arthritis or after the disease onset, a significant enhancement of the disease was obtained in a dose-dependent manner. This enhancement was accompanied by an augmentation of DTH skin reactions, while antibody responses were either suppressed or unaffected. These results appear to be attributable at least in part to a suppressive effect of CS-A on a population of suppressor T cells, thus resulting in a T cell-mediated helper effect. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the paradoxical effects of CS-A on collagen arthritis in rats might be caused by an altering of the sensitive balance of the two regulatory subpopulations of T cells. It is also possible that cell-mediated immune responses may play an important role in influencing the course of the disease.     

芍药苷对胶原诱导型关节炎模型的治疗作用及机制

目的 探讨芍药苷（paeoniflorin）对胶原诱导型大鼠关节炎（CIA）滑膜增殖和治疗的影响.方法 采用完全弗氏佐剂和Ⅱ型胶原诱导大鼠CIA模型,计数方法测定多发性关节炎指数（AJ）,称重法比较大鼠的体重变化,HE染色法光镜观察关节病理形态学变化,酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测巨噬细胞分泌的白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α,免疫组化检测滑膜细胞凋亡水平.结果 芍药苷对CIA大鼠的关节炎指数和关节病理评分都有改善,芍药苷组的各炎症因子的表达较模型组降低,芍药苷治疗后滑膜细胞凋亡较对照组增加,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.结论 芍药苷可以增加CIA大鼠关节炎滑膜细胞凋亡,降低CIA大鼠的关节炎指数和炎症因子含量.     

沙利度胺及氨甲蝶呤抗CIA大鼠滑膜血管新生及其作用机制的研究

目的研究沙利度胺、氨甲蝶呤对大鼠Ⅱ型胶原诱导型关节炎血管新生的影响及相关的机制。方法建立类风湿性关节炎大鼠模型.自造模次日治疗组分别给予沙利度胺、甲氨蝶呤和沙利度胺联合甲氨蝶呤治疗,在第6周取膝关节应用免疫组化检测其滑膜的微血管密度(MVD),取血清进行Western Blot检测大鼠体内血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)、基质金属蛋白酶-1、2、3、9的表达并计算相对含量。结果①免疫组织化学染色显示沙利度胺、氨甲蝶呤和沙利度胺联合氨甲蝶呤治疗模型大鼠可使关节滑膜中新生血管数量明显减少.微血管密度(MVD)明显降低(P<0.05).以沙利度胺联合氨甲蝶呤组作用最强。②沙利度胺、氨甲蝶呤和沙利度胺联合氨甲蝶呤可抑制VEGF、MMP-1、2、3、9表达(P均<0.05)。结论沙利度胺和氨甲蝶呤可能通过抑制VEGF,MMP-1、2、3、9的表达而发挥抗滑膜血管新生的作用,且两者有协同作用。     

Arthritis induced in rats by cloned T lymphocytes responsive to mycobacteria but not to collagen type II.

We have been studying the pathogenesis of adjuvant arthritis in rats using a long-term cell line of T lymphocytes, the A2 line, which can induce polyarthritis and can also be used to vaccinate rats against adjuvant arthritis. Although line A2 was selected for its proliferative response to mycobacteria, it also responded to collagen type II. To elucidate its role of responsiveness to collagen type II and the relationship between arthritogenicity and vaccination, we cloned A2 and selected a subline A2b. We now report that subline A2b, which bore a marker of helper/delayed hypersensitivity T lymphocytes, was strongly arthritogenic, but could not vaccinate against arthritis. Moreover, A2b showed no response to collagen type II. Therefore, reactivity to collagen type II is not a requisite for arthritogenicity, and mediation of arthritis and vaccination can be distinct properties of different populations of T lymphocytes.     

Severe inflammatory arthritis and lymphadenopathy in the absence of TNF.

It has been postulated that TNF has a pivotal role in a cytokine cascade that results in joint inflammation and destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To evaluate this, we examined the response of TNF-deficient (Tnf(-/-)) mice in two models of RA. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced by injection of chick type II collagen (CII) in CFA. Tnf(-/-) mice had some reduction in the clinical parameters of CIA and, on histology, significantly more normal joints. However, severe disease was evident in 54% of arthritic Tnf(-/-) joints. Tnf(-/-) mice had impaired Ig class switching, but preserved T cell proliferative responses to CII and enhanced IFN-gamma production. Interestingly, CII-immunized Tnf(-/-) mice developed lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly associated with increased memory CD4(+) T cells and activated lymph node B cells. Acute inflammatory arthritis was also reduced in Tnf(-/-) mice, although again some mice exhibited severe disease. We conclude that TNF is important but not essential for inflammatory arthritis; in each model, severe arthritis could proceed even in the complete absence of TNF. These results call into doubt the concept that TNF is obligatory for chronic autoimmune and acute inflammatory arthritis and provide a rationale for further studies into TNF-independent cytokine pathways in arthritis.     

金雀异黄素对CIA大鼠炎症及细胞因子影响的研究

目的 研究金雀异黄素（Gen）对类风湿关节炎（RA）动物模型CIA大鼠炎症及细胞因子的作用.方法 采用Ⅱ型胶原建立CIA大鼠模型;通过Gen和/或MTX治疗后检测CIA大鼠关节炎指数（AI）评分和后肢容积,摄取大鼠关节X线片;观察大鼠关节病理学改变; Western Blot法检测血清中白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）的表达.结果 CIA大鼠造模成功; Gen治疗组、MTX治疗组及Gen＋MTX治疗组大鼠炎症反应较模型对照组减轻,血清中IL-1β、TNF-α表达明显降低（P〈0.05）, Gen＋MTX治疗组的效果更佳.结论 Gen能够降低CIA大鼠炎症反应,减缓关节炎病情进展,可能是通过抑制IL-1β、TNF-α的表达而发挥抗炎作用.     

金雀异黄素对CIA大鼠炎症及细胞因子影响的研究

目的研究金雀异黄素(Gen)对类风湿关节炎(RA)动物模型CIA大鼠炎症及细胞因子的作用。方法采用Ⅱ型胶原建立CIA大鼠模型;通过Gen和/或MTX治疗后检测CIA大鼠关节炎指数(AI)评分和后肢容积,摄取大鼠关节X线片;观察大鼠关节病理学改变;Western Blot法检测血清中白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)的表达。结果 CIA大鼠造模成功;Gen治疗组、MTX治疗组及Gen+MTX治疗组大鼠炎症反应较模型对照组减轻,血清中IL-1β、TNF-α表达明显降低(P0.05),Gen+MTX治疗组的效果更佳。结论 Gen能够降低CIA大鼠炎症反应,减缓关节炎病情进展,可能是通过抑制IL-1β、TNF-α的表达而发挥抗炎作用。     

Type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats. Passive transfer with serum and evidence that IgG anticollagen antibodies can cause arthritis

We have found that serum from rats with type II collagen-induced arthritis, when fractionated with 50% ammonium sulfate and concentrated, would transfer arthritis to nonimmunized recipients. The arthritis in recipients developed within 18-72 h and displayed all of the major histopathologic characteristics of the early lesion in immunized animals but was transient and less severe. Although consideration was given to the possibility that a circulating immune complex was involved, no evidence of such a complex was detected. Further fractionation of the serum yielded an IgG anticollagen antibody that was fully active in transferring disease. The antibody's reaction was inhibited by the native bovine type II collagen used for immunization of donors and the antibody strongly cross-reacted with homologous type II collage but not with denatured collagen. These studies demonstrate that arthritis in rats can be induced with anti- type II collagen antibodies and suggest that an autoimmune process is involved. Because antibodies to collagen have also been detected in human rheumatic diseases, further investigation of the characteristics of collagen antibodies capable of inducing arthritis seems warranted.     

胶原诱导性关节炎大鼠滑膜组织中磷酸化p38与JNK通路及痹肿消汤的影响

背景：有研究报道滑膜细胞信号传导异常是类风湿关节炎发病的重要机制之一。目的：观察胶原诱导性关节炎大鼠中丝裂原活化蛋白激酶通路中磷酸化p38和磷酸化JNK的活化及痹肿消汤的影响。方法：将72只SD大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、痹肿消汤组。模型组及痹肿消汤组大鼠足趾注射胶原蛋白乳剂制备胶原诱导性关节炎模型大鼠,10d后加强免疫,初次免疫后第14天开始给痹肿消汤组大鼠每天痹肿消汤灌胃,模型组蒸馏水灌胃,正常组自由饮水。结果与结论：Westernblot检测结果显示,胶原诱导性关节炎大鼠中磷酸化p38及JNK的表达较正常组显著增高（P〈0.05）。与模型组相比,痹肿消汤组能下调磷酸化p38及JNK蛋白的表达（P〈0.05）。说明痹肿消汤可抑制类风湿关节炎中磷酸化p38及JNK的高表达。     

血管活性肠肽对胶原诱导关节炎大鼠治疗的作用初探

目的探讨血管活性肠肽(VIP)对胶原诱导性关节炎(CIA)大鼠的免疫调节作用,为应用VIP治疗类风湿关节炎(RA)提供理论依据。方法采用尾根部皮内多点注射法注射天然Ⅱ型胶原(CⅡ),免疫雌性Wistar大鼠(60只),建立CIA模型。随机取CIA成模大鼠(5只/组)于初次免疫后14~35 d,腹腔内注射不同浓度的VIP。定期进行临床、实验室、影像学及病理指标评估。结果不同剂量VIP(0.1、1、5 nmol隔日1次,共2周)治疗后CIA大鼠,其临床、实验室、影像学及病理指标明显缓解;正常鼠于VIP给药5 nmol 2周后重要脏器功能、组织学未见明显异常。结论生理浓度的VIP体内可缓解CIA鼠关节局部及全身免疫炎性反应,5 nmol 2周以内的体内治疗量基本安全,提示VIP可作为治疗RA有潜力的制剂。     

A mycobacterial 65-kD heat shock protein induces antigen-specific suppression of adjuvant arthritis, but is not itself arthritogenic

A recombinant (r)65-kD protein from Mycobacterium leprae, at levels far in excess of those present in whole mycobacteria, was unable to induce arthritis. Even when combined with a synthetic adjuvant, CP20961, to mimic the peptidoglycan adjuvant component of the mycobacterial cell wall, the r65-kD protein failed to induce arthritis. Pretreatment with as little as 1 microgram r65-kD protein protected rats against arthritis induced by M. tuberculosis, but this r65-kD protein was markedly less able to protect against arthritis induced by the synthetic adjuvant, CP20961, or type II collagen. The r65-kD protein appears, therefore, to produce an antigen-specific protection against arthritis induced by bacterial cell walls containing the 65-kD protein. Such protection can be overcome, however, by arthritogenic T lymphocytes, suggesting that protection occurs by preventing clonal proliferation of autoreactive T lymphocytes that are induced by the adjuvant properties of mycobacterial cell walls. How the r65-kD protein abrogates this particular adjuvant activity, and the nature of the arthritogenic self antigen(s), remain to be elucidated.