重组血管活性肠肽基因质粒治疗大鼠胶原性关节炎的研究

目的：观察重组血管活性肠肽（pcDNA3．1＋／VIP）质粒治疗胶原诱导的大鼠关节炎（CIA）对血清TNF—α、IL～2、IL-4表达的影响和病理变化，探讨VIP基因治疗类风湿性关节炎的效果及可能机制。方法：以Ⅱ型胶原诱导的大鼠关节炎作为CIA模型，重组血管活性肠肽质粒关节腔内注射治疗CIA，以双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法（ABC—ELISA）检测血清TNF—α、IL-2和IL-4的表达，观察病理变化和整体疗效。结果：①病理切片显示CIA模型组炎性细胞浸润明显，并存在骨和软骨破坏，VIP治疗组可显著减轻关节炎性病理改变；②细胞因子测定显示：与正常组相比，各对照组血清TNF—α、IL-2水平显著升高（P〈0．05），IL-4水平减低（P〈0．05）；与各对照组相比，各重组VIP质粒治疗组血清TNF—α和IL-2表达水平均明显降低（P〈0．05），IL-4表达则升高（P〈0．05）。结论：血管活性肠肽基因质粒关节腔内注射治疗大鼠CIA具有显著的疗效，有望成为RA的有效治疗手段。

Experiment treatment of collagen-induced arthritis in rats with recombinant plasmid containing vasoactive intestinal peptide gene

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutical effect of recombinant plasmid containing vasoactive intestinal peptide gene (pcDNA3.1+/VIP) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats. METHODS: The experimental arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of bovine type II collagen emulsified in Freund's adjuvants in male SD rats. The rats then were given intra-articular injection with recombinant plasmid (pcDNA3.1+/VIP). The levels of serum TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-2 were detected by Avidin-Biotin Peroxdase Complex-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ABC-ELISA) and the pathological changes in the joint of rats were observed. RESULT: Histological examination showed massive inflammatory infiltration in the joint with destruction of bone and cartilage, while the severity of pathological changes in synovia of VIP-treated rats was markedly reduced. Compared with normal group, the serum TNF-alpha, IL-2 levels of CIA rats were significantly increased (P <0.05) and IL-4 level was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with control and pcDNA3.1+ -treated CIA rats, serum TNF-alpha and IL-2 levels of pcDNA3.1+/VIP-treated rats were decreased and IL-4 level was increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Recombinant plasmid containing vasoactive intestinal peptide gene (pcDNA3.1+/VIP) can reduce the clinical and histological severity of established CIA and it might be a promising candidate for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.