肠道菌群及代谢与载脂蛋白E在动脉粥样硬化中的相互作用

目的明确肠道菌群及代谢与载脂蛋白在动脉粥样硬化中的相互作用。方法 C57BL/6J小鼠作为对照组(n=5),载脂蛋白E基因敲除(apolipoprotein E-deficient mice,ApoE~(-/-))小鼠作为动脉粥样硬化模型组(n=8),均为6周龄雄性。两组小鼠均给予高脂饮食,饲养12周后麻醉、摘眼球取血,采用全自动生化分析仪检测血脂,高效液相色谱串联质谱法测定血浆氧化三甲胺(Trimethylamine N-oxid,TMAO)的含量,留取粪便用于肠道菌群16S rRNA V3-V4区域的测序进行菌群鉴定,油红"O"染色主动脉根部确定动脉粥样硬化斑块面积。结果血清学指标:ApoE~(-/-)小鼠较对照组血浆中TMAO(t=-2.87,P0.05)、LDL(t=-11.76,P0.05)、TG(t=-3.56,P0.01)、TC(t=-12.38,P0.01)含量及动脉粥样硬化斑块面积(t=-11.94,P0.01)显著增加,HDL含量降低(t=3.63,P0.01)。肠道菌群测序:两组小鼠随着动脉斑块面积的增加,肠道微生物的丰富度、物种组成及功能预测分析等差异均有统计学意义,还发现ApoE~(-/-)小鼠能够生成TMAO的肠道菌群包括Anaeroplasma、Anaeroplasmatales、Anaeroplasmataceae、Proteus、Paraprevotella和Paraprevotellaceae,而对照组生成TMAO的菌群只有1类,为Anaerotruncus。结论 C57BL/6J小鼠与ApoE~(-/-)小鼠肠道微生物群落的组成、功能及其代谢产物TMAO的血浆含量各不相同,提示ApoE基因缺乏的宿主除导致脂质代谢紊乱外,在动脉粥样硬化形成过程中一定程度上影响着肠道菌群的代谢。     

乌龙茶多酚对高脂饮食诱导肥胖小鼠模型肠道菌群的调节作用

为了研究乌龙茶多酚(Oolong tea polyphenols,OTP)对肥胖小鼠肠道微生物群的调节作用,本文采用高脂饮食诱导小鼠肥胖后,通过高通量测序技术分析其对肠道菌群结构的影响。结果表明,OTP能够明显抑制高脂喂养小鼠肥胖的形成、减轻肝脏脂肪变性、降低血清中总胆固醇(Total cholesterol,TC)、甘油三酯(Triglyceride,TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(Low density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C)含量以及增加高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(High density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C)的含量(P0.05)。进一步分析显示,OTP能够抑制高脂饮食导致的小鼠肠道菌群丰度及多样性的降低。从微生物群落结构上看,补充8周OTP后,可以观察到肥胖小鼠肠道中拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)的增加和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)的减少,Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes比率相应降低,该实验结果表明OTP对肠道菌群具有一定的调节作用。因此,OTP可能具有益生元活性,可作为功能性食品成分预防肠道菌群生态的失调,并具有治疗肠道微生物功能失调的潜在治疗效用。     

阿魏酸对高脂血症小鼠肝脂肪变性及肠道菌群的调节作用

目的探讨阿魏酸(ferulic acid)对高脂血症小鼠肝脂肪变性及肠道菌群的调节作用。方法将24只6周龄雄性Apo E-/-小鼠随机分为4组(n=6),即对照组、模型组、阿魏酸组[40 mg/(kg·d)]、辛伐他汀组[5 mg/(kg·d)];另取6只同龄C57BL/6小鼠为空白组。高脂喂养12周后,再给药处理12周,采集小鼠粪便进行肠道菌群检测,检测血脂水平,制作肝切片观察病理变化。结果与对照组相比,模型组小鼠体重、血清总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)、甘油三酯(triglyceride,TG)、低密度脂蛋白(low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C)明显升高(P 0. 05),肝切片可见小鼠肝细胞质内充满脂滴,大部分肝细胞呈现脂肪变性,模型组厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和韦荣球菌科(Erysipelotrichaceae)的细菌数量升高,拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、瘤胃菌科(Ruminococcaceae)和Odoribacter数量减少;与模型组比较,阿魏酸组小鼠体重、血清TC、TG、LDL-C显著降低,肝脂肪变性明显减轻,厚壁菌门和韦荣球菌科细菌数量减少,拟杆菌门、瘤胃菌科和Odoribacter数量升高。结论阿魏酸可以改善小鼠的血脂异常,肝脂肪变性,调节肠道菌群失衡。     

野生蓝莓和花青素提取物对高脂饮食小鼠肠道菌群的影响

【目的】研究野生蓝莓和花青素提取物对高脂饮食小鼠肠道菌群的影响。【方法】采用高脂饲料喂养C57BL/6小鼠,同时膳食补充野生蓝莓或花青素提取物,将25只无菌小鼠分为5组:正常对照组(Normal chow diet,NCD),普通饲料+10 g/100 g蓝莓组(NCD+BB),高脂饲料组(High-fat diet,HFD),高脂饲料+10 g/100 g蓝莓组(HFD+BB),高脂饲料+20 mg/100 g花青素组(HFD+ACN),饲养10周,每周对其食物摄入量、能量摄入量以及体重进行测定,并运用DGGE方法对小鼠肠道菌群结构变化进行动态监测。【结果】各实验组食物摄入量无显著性差异,HFD+BB组和HFD+ACN组能量摄入量均明显高于NCD+BB组。虽然HFD+BB组体重增加最为明显,但10周末时HFD+BB组体重与其他各组无显著差异。随着实验的进行,HFD组、HFD+BB组和HFD+ACN组肠道微生物多样性发生明显变化。HFD+BB组与NCD组菌群差异最大,HFD+ACN组与NCD组肠道菌群DGGE图谱相似性系数明显高于HFD组,对优势条带测序结果显示膳食补充蓝莓或花青素提取物可明显降低肥胖相关细菌Firmicutes的数量。【结论】蓝莓和花青素提取物可改善由高脂饮食引起的肠道微生态失调,调节肠道菌群结构,具有潜在的减肥消脂功能。     

葛仙米多糖对高脂小鼠血脂和肠道微生物的影响

[目的]研究葛仙米多糖对高脂饲料喂养小鼠血脂和肠道微生物的影响.[方法]将健康的8周龄雄性小鼠分成5组,每组10只:正常组C57/6CNC小鼠(N:灌胃生理盐水,喂饲标准饲料),对照组ApoE-/-小鼠(C:灌胃生理盐水,喂饲标准饲料),模型组ApoE-/-小鼠(M:灌胃生理盐水,喂饲高脂高胆固醇饲料),葛仙米多糖低剂...     

基于肠道菌群和短链脂肪酸代谢探讨不同饮食条件下高脂血症大鼠发病机制

目的 本研究拟对比两种不同高脂饮食方式诱导的高脂血症大鼠肠道菌群变化与短链脂肪酸代谢特征,以宿主-肠道菌群-代谢角度探讨高脂血症可能的微观机制。方法 SPF级SD大鼠分为：正常饮食组(CG组):饲喂大鼠维持饲料;高脂饮食组(HFD1组):每天足量饲喂高脂饲料;限饲高脂饮食组(HFD2组):每天限量饲喂高脂饲料80 g,不限量饲喂维持饲料。8周后检测血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)水平;苏木精-伊红(HE)染色观察大鼠肝组织和肾周脂肪病理学变化;取结肠内容物进行16S rDNA高通量测序,观察肠道菌群结构与功能的变化,并检测结肠内容物中短链脂肪酸的含量。结果 与CG组相比,HFD1组和HFD2组大鼠摄食量下降,体重升高;血清中TC、TG、LDL-C均显著升高;肝组织发生明显脂肪变性,肾周脂肪出现炎性病变;高脂干预后大鼠肠道菌群相对丰度显著变化,其中乳杆菌属相对丰度明显降低,菌群结构和功能变化明显,总短链脂肪酸、乙酸、丁酸、异丁酸下降显著。结论 两种高脂饮食方式均能引起大鼠高脂血症,且发病机制基本一致,均与脂质代谢以...     

Irgm 1参与动脉粥样硬化斑块的形成

目的:探讨免疫相关GTP酶1(Irgm 1)对小鼠血管动脉粥样硬化(AS)斑块形成的影响。方法:高脂饲料喂养野生型(WT)、ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)和ApoE~(-/-)Irgm1~(+/-)小鼠3个月,建立AS模型;取小鼠主动脉弓,免疫荧光染色方法观察WT和ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)小鼠血管AS斑块中Irgm 1的表达情况及部位;Western blot方法检测WT和ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)小鼠血管AS斑块中Irgm 1蛋白表达情况;Q-PCR方法检测WT和ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)小鼠血管AS斑块中Irgm 1 m RNA表达情况;油红O染色观察ApoE~(-/-)Irgm1~(+/+)和ApoE~(-/-)Irgm1~(+/-)小鼠血管AS斑块形成情况;结果:与WT组相比,ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)组小鼠主动脉弓AS斑块中Irgm 1+细胞明显增多,Irgm 1+细胞主要位于血管AS斑块的表面;与WT组相比,ApoE~(-/-)Irgm 1~(+/+)组小鼠血管AS斑块中Irgm 1蛋白表达显著增多(P0.001),Irgm 1 m RNA表达显著增多(P0.01);与ApoE~(-/-)Irgm1~(+/-)组相比,ApoE~(-/-)Irgm1~(+/+)组小鼠主动脉弓AS斑块面积显著增大(P0.01);结论:Irgm 1能够促进血管AS斑块的形成。     

基于无菌动物研究肠道微生物与类风湿关节炎发病相关性

肠道微生物与宿主的生长发育、免疫、代谢等方面均密切相关,但肠道菌群与宿主之间复杂的相互作用在很大程度上仍然是未知的。目前无菌动物已成为探索肠道微生物与宿主相互作用的重要工具,多项研究使用无菌动物模型探讨肠道菌群在宿主代谢、机体免疫系统的发育和成熟等方面的作用,其中包括肠道菌群在自身免疫性疾病发病及预后中的作用。研究发现,肠道菌群作为环境因素之一可能参与类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)发病,然而其因果关系未明。本文将对使用无菌动物探讨肠道微生物参与类风湿关节炎发病的相关性研究作一综述,为进一步深入研究肠道菌群在RA发病中的作用及机制研究提供理论依据。     

益生菌干预对高脂高糖饮食诱导肥胖小鼠肠道菌群及脂代谢影响的研究

目的探讨益生菌干预对高脂高糖饮食诱导肥胖小鼠肠道菌群及脂代谢的影响。方法 C57BL/6J雌性小鼠30只随机分为正常对照组、肥胖组和益生菌干预组,每组10只,分别给予标准饲料、高脂高糖饲料以及高脂高糖饲料同时给予益生菌干预,连续喂养6周,测量并分析三组小鼠的体重。留取小鼠粪便样本,应用PCR-DGGE法分析菌群,应用酶反应比色法分析三组小鼠血脂情况。结果与正常对照组小鼠相比,肥胖小鼠体重明显增加,益生菌干预组小鼠体重略有增加;肥胖组小鼠肠道菌群紊乱,与正常对照组分别聚为两大类,益生菌干预组小鼠肠道菌群与正常对照组聚为一大类。肥胖小鼠血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白含量升高,益生菌干预组小鼠较肥胖组血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白含量降低,但与正常对照组仍有差异。结论高脂高糖饮食诱导肥胖小鼠存在肠道菌群结构失调及脂代谢异常,益生菌干预可以改善肥胖小鼠菌群失调以及脂代谢紊乱。     

高脂饮食对雄性SD大鼠肠道菌群的影响

目的探讨通过膳食饲喂高脂饲料诱发的高脂血症大鼠肠道菌群结构的变化。方法 24只SD（Spra-gue Dawley,SD）雄性大鼠随机分为A、B两组,分别连续饲喂基础饲料和高脂饲料42 d,并于第0、9、18、30和42天采集大鼠粪便,应用DGGE（Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis）和q-PCR技术对肠道菌群进行定性定量分析。结果第42天时A、B组大鼠血清总胆固醇值（TC）分别为（2.01±0.14）mmol/L、（5.16±0.22）mmol/L,B组TC水平较A组明显增高（P〈0.05）。DGGE电泳图谱显示B组42 d时肠道菌群构成较0 d时变化显著,而A组不同时期肠道菌落构成无明显差异。q-PCR定量结果显示,随着饲喂高脂饲料天数的增加,B组小鼠肠道内乳杆菌属和双歧杆菌属较0 d明显降低（P〈0.01）,而拟杆菌门数量呈递减趋势且趋势比较平缓;梭菌属呈递增趋势且增幅相对拟杆菌门的变化较大。结论高脂饮食可导致肠道菌群结构的改变,这种改变会进一步促进高脂血症的形成。     

Essential role of neutrophils in the initiation and progression of a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis.

Neutrophils are prominent participants in the joint inflammation of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, but the extent of their role in the inductive phase of joint inflammation is unknown. In the K/BxN mouse RA model, transfer of autoreactive Ig from the K/BxN mouse into mice induces a rapid and profound joint-specific inflammatory response reminiscent of human RA. We observed that after K/BxN serum transfer, the earliest clinical signs of inflammation in the ankle joint correlated with the presence of neutrophils in the synovial regions of recipient mouse ankle joints. In this study, we investigated the role of neutrophils in the early inflammatory response to transferred arthritogenic serum from the K/BxN transgenic mouse. Mice were treated with a neutrophil-depleting mAb before and following transfer of arthritogenic serum and scored for clinical indications of inflammation and severity of swelling in ankle joints and front paws. In the absence of neutrophils, mice were completely resistant to the inflammatory effects of K/BxN serum. Importantly, depletion of neutrophils in diseased recipient mice up to 5 days after serum transfer reversed the inflammatory reaction in the joints. Transfer of serum into mice deficient in the generation of nitrogen or oxygen radicals (inducible NO synthase 2 or gp91(phox) genes, respectively) gave normal inflammatory responses, indicating that neither pathway is essential for disease induction. These studies have identified a critical role for neutrophils in initiating and maintaining inflammatory processes in the joint.     

Artesunate Abolishes Germinal Center B Cells and Inhibits Autoimmune Arthritis

The antimalarial drug artemisinin and its derivatives exhibit potent immunosuppressive activity in several autoimmune disease models, however the mechanisms are not well-understood. This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects and the underlying mechanisms of the artemisinin analog artesunate using the K/BxN mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. The well-studied disease mechanisms of K/BxN model allowed us to pinpoint the effect of artesunate on disease. Artesunate treatment prevented arthritis development in young K/BxN mice by inhibiting germinal center (GC) formation and production of autoantibodies. In adult K/BxN mice with established arthritis, artesunate diminished GC B cells in a few days. However, artesunate did not affect the follicular helper T cells (Tfh). In contrast to the spontaneous K/BxN model, artesunate treatment exerted minor influence on K/BxN serum transfer induced arthritis suggesting that artesunate has minimal effect on inflammatory responses downstream of antibody production. Finally, we showed that artesunate preferentially inhibits proliferating GC B cells. These results identify GC B cells as a target of artesunate and provide a new rationale for using artemisinin analogues to treat autoimmune diseases mediated by autoantibodies.     

基于生物芯片探讨高脂饮食对动脉粥样硬化小鼠基因组DNA甲基化的影响

目的:采用DNA甲基化芯片技术探讨高脂饮食对Apo E-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化模型全基因组DNA甲基化的影响。方法:30只雄性Apo E-/-小鼠随机分为正常组与高脂组,每组15只,正常组给予正常饲料喂养,高脂组给予高脂饲料喂养。16周后,测其血脂、血清同型半胱氨酸水平(Hcy)水平、血清DNA甲基化与血清DNA甲基化转移酶(DNMTs)水平;采用DNA甲基化芯片检测两组小鼠主动脉组织全基因组甲基化情况。结果:与正常组相比,高脂组小鼠血清CHOL、TG、LDL-C均显著升高,HDL-C显著下降;血清DNA甲基化水平与血清DNA甲基化转移酶(DNMTs)水平均显著升高。甲基化芯片结果显示:与正常组相比,高脂组主动脉全基因组中共有875个基因甲基化发生改变,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),其中高甲基化基因数目496,占总数56.69%;低甲基化基因数目379,占总数的43.31%。结论:高脂饲料可升高主动脉基因组甲基化水平,降低基因组的表达,可能是Apo E-/-小鼠容易形成动脉粥样硬化的机制之一。     

Endothelial NADPH oxidase 4 protects ApoE-/- mice from atherosclerotic lesions

Vascular reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to be involved in atherosclerosis development and progression. NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) is a constitutively active ROS-producing enzyme that is highly expressed in the vascular endothelium. Nox4 is unique in its biology and has been implicated in vascular repair, however, the role of Nox4 in atherosclerosis is unknown. Therefore, to determine the effect of endothelial Nox4 on development of atherosclerosis, Apoe E-/- mice +/- endothelial Nox4 (ApoE-/- + EC Nox4) were fed a high cholesterol/high fat (Western) diet for 24 weeks. Significantly fewer atherosclerotic lesions were observed in the ApoE-/- + EC Nox4 mice as compared to the ApoE-/- littermates, which was most striking in the abdominal region of the aorta. In addition, markers of T cell populations were markedly different between the groups; T regulatory cell marker (FoxP3) was increased whereas T effector cell marker (T-bet) was decreased in aorta from ApoE-/- + EC Nox4 mice compared to ApoE-/- alone. We also observed decreased monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG; CXCL9), a cytokine known to recruit and activate T cells, in plasma and tissue from ApoE-/- + EC Nox4 mice. To further investigate the link between endothelial Nox4 and MIG expression, we utilized cultured endothelial cells from our EC Nox4 transgenic mice and human cells with adenoviral overexpression of Nox4. In these cultured cells, upregulation of Nox4 attenuated endothelial cell MIG expression in response to interferon-gamma. Together these data suggest that endothelial Nox4 expression reduces MIG production and promotes a T cell distribution that favors repair over inflammation, leading to protection from atherosclerosis.     

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells selectively diminish systemic autoreactivity in arthritic K/BxN mice

Although the arthritis symptoms observed in the K/BxN model have been shown to be dependent on the functions of T and B cells specific to the self antigen glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, less is known about the in vivo roles of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (T(reg)) cells in the pathology of K/BxN mice. We determined the quantitative and functional characteristics of the T(reg) cells in K/BxN mice. These mice contained a higher percentage of Foxp3(+) T(reg) cells among the CD4(+) T cells than their BxN littermates. These T(reg) cells were anergic and efficiently suppressed the proliferation of na?ve CD4(+) T cells and cytokine production by effector CD4(+) T cells in vitro. Antibody-mediated depletion of CD25(+) cells caused K/BxN mice to develop multi-organ inflammation and autoantibody production, while the symptoms of arthritis were not affected. These results demonstrate that despite the inability of the T(reg) cells to suppress arthritis development, they play a critical role protecting the arthritic mice from systemic expansion of autoimmunity.     

PAD4 is not essential for disease in the K/BxN murine autoantibody-mediated model of arthritis

Introduction

Both murine and human genome-wide association studies have implicated peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD4) as a susceptibility gene in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, patients with RA commonly have autoantibodies which recognize PAD4 or and/or citrullinated peptides. This study aims to evaluate the role of PAD4 in the effector phase of arthritis.

Methods

PAD4 knock out (KO) and wild type (WT) C57BL/6J mice were injected with K/BxN sera to induce disease. Progression of disease was monitored by measuring paw and ankle swelling and clinical indexes of disease, and pathogenesis was assessed by indexing of clinical progression on paws collected from WT and PAD4 KO mice injected with K/BxN serum. PAD4 activity was determined by visualization of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and immunohistological analysis of histone citrullination.

Results

PAD4 activity is readily detectable in the inflamed synovium of WT but not PAD4 deficient animals, as demonstrated by histone citrullination and NET formation. However, PAD4 WT and KO animals develop K/BxN serum transfer disease with comparable severity and kinetics, with no statistically significant differences noted in clinical scores, swelling, joint erosion or joint invasion.

Conclusions

PAD4 WT and KO mice develop disease in the K/BxN serum transfer model of arthritis with similar severity and kinetics, indicating that PAD4 is dispensable in this effector phase model of disease.     

Disease severity in K/BxN serum transfer-induced arthritis is not affected by IL-33 deficiency

Introduction

Interleukin (IL)-33 is a cytokine of the IL-1 family, which signals through the ST2 receptor. Previous work suggested implication of the IL-33/ST2 axis in the pathogenesis of human and mouse arthritis. Here, we directly investigated the role of endogenous IL-33 in K/BxN serum transfer-induced arthritis by using IL-33 knockout (KO) mice.

Methods

Arthritis was induced by injection of complete K/BxN serum or purified IgG. Disease severity was monitored by clinical and histological scoring.

Results

K/BxN serum transfer induced pronounced arthritis with similar incidence and severity in IL-33 KO and wild-type (WT) mice. In contrast, disease development was significantly reduced in ST2 KO mice. IL-33 expression in synovial tissue was comparable in arthritic WT and ST2 KO mice, and absent in IL-33 KO mice. Transfer of purified arthritogenic IgG instead of complete K/BxN serum also resulted in similar arthritis severity in IL-33 KO and WT mice, excluding a contribution of IL-33 contained in the serum of donor mice to explain this result. We investigated additional potential confounding factors, including purity of genetic background, but the mechanisms underlying reduced arthritis in ST2 KO mice remained unclear.

Conclusions

The data obtained with IL-33 KO mice indicate that endogenous IL-33 is not required for the development of joint inflammation in K/BxN serum transfer-induced arthritis. On the contrary, arthritis severity was reduced in ST2 KO mice. This observation might relate to IL-33 independent effects of ST2, and/or reveal the existence of confounding variables affecting the severity of joint inflammation in these KO strains.     

The role of FcgammaR signaling in the K/B x N serum transfer model of arthritis

Spontaneous arthritis in the KRN transgenic mouse (K/BxN) model is due to the autoreactivity of the transgenic TCR and subsequent induction of autoantibodies directed against glucose-6-phosphate isomerase. These autoantibodies transfer clinically apparent arthritis into most recipient mouse strains and systemic catabolism of the transferred Abs attenuates paw swelling. Although mice deficient in the common gamma-chain of the FcgammaR did not show clinical synovitis after receiving K/BxN sera, erosive lesions in the bone still developed. Further analysis demonstrated that FcgammaRII(-/-) mice manifested accelerated arthritis whereas the FcgammaRIII(-/-) mice had a more slowly progressing arthritis. Paw swelling required FcgammaR expression by bone marrow-derived cells and mast cells substantially contributed to the acute phase of paw swelling. In the K/BxN serum transfer model of arthritis, there is a clinically apparent acute phase, which is modulated by FcgammaRII and FcgammaRIII, and a subacute component, which results in bone erosion, even in the absence of FcgammaR signaling.     

Successful treatment of animal models of rheumatoid arthritis with small-molecule cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors

Intraarticular gene transfer of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors to suppress synovial cell cycling has shown efficacy in treating animal models of rheumatoid arthritis. Endogenous CDK inhibitors also modulate immune function via a CDK-independent pathway. Accordingly, systemic administration of small molecules that inhibit CDK may or may not ameliorate arthritis. To address this issue, alvocidib (flavopiridol), known to be tolerated clinically for treating cancers, and a newly synthesized CDK4/6-selective inhibitor were tested for antiarthritic effects. In vitro, they inhibited proliferation of human and mouse synovial fibroblasts without inducing apoptosis. In vivo, treatment of collagen-induced arthritis mice with alvocidib suppressed synovial hyperplasia and joint destruction, whereas serum concentrations of anti-collagen type II (CII) Abs and proliferative responses to CII were maintained. Treatment was effective even when therapeutically administered. Treated mice developed arthritis after termination of treatment. Thus, immune responses to CII were unimpaired. The same treatment ameliorated arthritis induced by K/BxN serum transfer to lymphocyte-deficient mice. Similarly, the CDK4/6-selective inhibitor suppressed collagen-induced arthritis. Both small-molecule CDK inhibitors were effective in treating animal models of rheumatoid arthritis not by suppressing lymphocyte function. Thus, the two small-molecule CDK inhibitors ameliorated arthritis models in a distinctive way, compared with other immunosuppressive drugs.     

Cutting Edge: The murine high-affinity IgG receptor FcγRIV is sufficient for autoantibody-induced arthritis

K/BxN serum-induced passive arthritis was reported to depend on the activation of mast cells, triggered by the activating IgG receptor FcγRIIIA, when engaged by IgG1 autoantibodies present in K/BxN serum. This view is challenged by the fact that FcγRIIIA-deficient mice still develop K/BxN arthritis and because FcγRIIIA is the only activating IgG receptor expressed by mast cells. We investigated the contribution of IgG receptors, IgG subclasses, and cells in K/BxN arthritis. We found that the activating IgG2 receptor FcγRIV, expressed only by monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils, was sufficient to induce disease. K/BxN arthritis occurred not only in mast cell-deficient W(sh) mice, but also in mice whose mast cells express no activating IgG receptors. We propose that at least two autoantibody isotypes, IgG1 and IgG2, and two activating IgG receptors, FcγRIIIA and FcγRIV, contribute to K/BxN arthritis, which requires at least two cell types other than mast cells, monocytes/macrophages, and neutrophils.