胶原诱导性关节炎小鼠CD4^＋T细胞亚群表达酪氨酸羟化酶的作用

目的：本研究应用胶原诱导性关节炎（CIA）的动物模型,通过研究CD4＋T细胞亚群表达酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）的变化与作用,探讨CIM＋T细胞亚群来源的儿茶酚胺与CIA的炎症反应之间的关系。方法：雄性DBA／1小鼠36只随机分为对照组、35天模型组和55天模型组（n=12）。用Ⅱ型胶原（cⅡ）乳剂免疫DBA／1小鼠诱导CIA,在初次免疫后第35天和55天进行关节临床评分并检测血清中抗cⅡ IgG抗体水平的变化。用Western blot法检测肠系膜淋巴结中1h1、Th17、Th2和Treg细胞的特异性转录因子及其细胞因子以及TH表达的变化。用流式细胞术检测肠系膜淋巴结中表达TH的CD4＋T细胞亚群数目的变化。结果：CIA小鼠在发病早期（初次免疫后第35天）和发病晚期（初次免疫后第55天）临床评分和血清中抗cⅡ IgG抗体水平显著升高。CIA小鼠肠系膜淋巴结中1h1和Th17细胞的特异性转录因子和细胞因子表达增加而Th2和Treg细胞的细胞因子表达减少。CIA小鼠肠系膜淋巴结中TH的表达增加,且CD4＋T细胞中TH＋的细胞数目增多,这主要是来自CD4＋T细胞亚群中Thl和rIh17细胞的作用。结论：CIA小鼠肠系膜淋巴结中存在CIM＋T细胞亚群来源的儿茶酚胺的增加,可能在cn的发展过程中具有一定的抗炎作用。     

干酪乳杆菌干预对花生过敏小鼠模型的免疫调节作用

【目的】研究干酪乳杆菌(Lactobacillus casei)Zhang在预防及治疗花生过敏方面的作用。【方法】构建小鼠花生过敏模型,饲喂L.casei Zhang,并检测血清中IgE、IgG1和IgG2a抗体,粪便中组胺和IgA抗体,细胞因子和CD4+Foxp3+Tregs细胞的含量。【结果】与模型组相比,口服L.casei Zhang的实验组小鼠血清过敏原特异性的IgG2a和粪便总IgA抗体水平有所上调,花生过敏症状及Th2型反应(血清总IgE、特异性IgE、粪便组胺和IL-4水平等指标)明显降低。L.casei Zhang的摄入对血清IgG1抗体和其他细胞因子(IL-10、IL-12及IFN-γ)的表达水平没有明显影响,而IFN-γ/IL-4的比例及实验组脾脏和肠系膜淋巴结中CD4~+Foxp3~+Tregs细胞的表达增加。【结论】L.casei Zhang能促使Th2优势反应向Th1方向转变,从而起到预防和治疗花生过敏的作用。     

应用体内外实验筛选可降低牛乳β-乳球蛋白过敏的乳杆菌

【目的】通过体内外实验评估5种乳杆菌缓解牛乳β-乳球蛋白(BLG)过敏的作用,为今后筛选具有抗过敏活性的乳杆菌提供参考。【方法】首先体外分析5种活的/热致死的乳杆菌促进小鼠原代淋巴细胞分泌细胞因子(CK)IFN-γ和IL-4的水平,随后应用小鼠BLG过敏模型评估这5种乳杆菌抑制过敏的能力。将实验动物随机分为空白组、BLG致敏组和5种活的/热致死乳杆菌组。采用ELISA法检测各组小鼠淋巴细胞分泌Thl/Th2型CK的水平,并测定小鼠血清中总IgE和BLG特异性IgE的含量。【结果】在体外可促进淋巴细胞分泌IFN-γ、抑制IL-4,使其IFN-γ/IL-4比值(代表Thl/Th2细胞平衡)显著高于正常对照组(P<0.05)的乳杆菌,在体内实验中也能有效提高致敏小鼠淋巴细胞的IFN-γ/IL-4分泌率,并显著降低致敏小鼠血清中总IgE和BLG特异性IgE的水平(P<0.05)。相反,在体外的IFN-γ/IL-4比值较低的乳杆菌,不能缓解特异性IgE抗体介导的食物过敏反应。【结论】基于乳杆菌体外刺激小鼠原代淋巴细胞分泌Th1/Th2型CK的结果,可以预测菌株在体内具有可通过纠正Th2占优势的Th1/Th2细胞失衡,下调抗体分泌量,缓解小鼠BLG过敏症状的能力。     

类风湿关节炎大鼠血清Th1/Th2水平及意义

目的:初步探讨类风湿关节炎大鼠免疫功能紊乱的机制。方法:采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测类风湿关节炎大鼠血清中Th1细胞分泌的细胞因子IFN-γ和Th2细胞分泌的细胞因子IL-4的水平。结果:类风湿关节炎大鼠血清中IFN-γ的水平与正常组相比明显升高(p<0.01),IL-4的水平明显降低(p<0.01)。结论:在类风湿关节炎大鼠血清中Th1/Th2细胞分泌的细胞因子水平存在着明显失衡,两者以Th1细胞分泌细胞因子占优势,这可能与其发病机制密切相关。     

乳杆菌对牛乳β-乳球蛋白致敏小鼠淋巴细胞分泌Th1/Th2型细胞因子和抗体的体外影响

为了分析乳杆菌对致敏小鼠脾淋巴细胞分泌Th1/Th2细胞因子及抗体的体外影响,用牛乳β-乳球蛋白腹腔注射BALB/c小鼠建立过敏症模型,造模成功后,分离致敏小鼠的脾淋巴细胞并与4种活/死乳杆菌(107 CFU/mL)体外共同孵育,ELISA法检测细胞上清液中细胞因子(IL-12、IFN-γ和IL-4)和抗体(总IgE、β-Lg特异性IgE和总IgG)含量。4种活/死乳杆菌均可体外调节致敏小鼠脾淋巴细胞分泌细胞因子和抗体的水平,特别是热致死的发酵乳杆菌和嗜酸乳杆菌可提高淋巴细胞IL-12和IFN-γ的分泌,抑制IL-4的分泌,使其IFN-γ/IL-4比值(代表Th1/Th2细胞平衡)高于活菌,与空白对照组比较差异显著(P<0.05)。同时,这两株热致死菌还可显著下调细胞上清液中总IgE、特异性IgE和总IgG抗体的浓度(P<0.05)。试验结果表明乳杆菌可提高牛乳β-乳球蛋白致敏小鼠脾淋巴细胞的IFN-γ/IL-4比值,进而纠正Th2占优势的Th1/Th2失衡,下调抗体分泌量,且具有菌株特异性。     

冠状病毒HCoV-229E S1蛋白片段的免疫原性分析

目的表达和纯化HCoV-229E的S1蛋白片段（S1 417-547）,分析其诱导的免疫应答。方法将纯化蛋白免疫小鼠,ELISA检测小鼠血清特异性抗体以及血清IL-4和IFN-γ含量,流式细胞术检测小鼠脾脏T淋巴细胞亚群分布,观察其诱导的免疫应答。结果表达蛋白经金属螯合获得纯化,并诱导小鼠产生了高滴度的抗体。脾脏CD4^＋和CD8^＋比例均升高,CD4^＋/CD8^＋比值下降;免疫鼠血清IFN-γ和IL-4水平显著升高。结论成功构建了HCoV-229E S1蛋白的表达载体,并在BL21（DE3）中得到了高效表达,表达蛋白免疫小鼠后诱导了明显的细胞和体液免疫应答。     

松节方提取物对炎症动物模型的抗炎作用及机制探讨

该文旨在评价松节方提取物(SJF)的抗炎镇痛作用,尤其是对关节炎的抑制作用,并初步探讨其作用机制。采用二甲苯诱导的小鼠耳肿胀模型、醋酸诱导的小鼠疼痛模型、鸡II型胶原(CCII)诱导的大鼠关节炎模型,观察松节方提取物的体内抗炎镇痛活性和抗关节炎的作用,检测大鼠血清TNF-α、INF-γ、IL-10、IL-1β含量,观察大鼠踝关节组织病理学变化。结果表明松节方提取物可减轻上述模型的炎症及疼痛症状,抑制CCII致关节炎大鼠滑膜组织炎性细胞浸润和滑膜组织增生,能显著降低关节炎大鼠血清TNF-α、INF-γ、IL-1β含量,升高血清IL-10含量。说明松节方提取物具有较好的抗炎镇痛作用,可明显抑制CCII所致大鼠关节炎,降低其关节组织损伤程度,其机制可能与调节炎症因子表达相关。     

胶原性关节炎大鼠炎性细胞因子的动态观察

目的通过对胶原性关节炎(CIA)大鼠多个细胞因子的动态观察,了解其变化规律,为阐明RA发病机制及CIA大鼠的模型研究提供实验依据。方法建立CIA大鼠模型。分别于初次免疫后第0、10、20、30、40、50、60天记录大鼠的体重,测量大鼠后足体积和足垫厚度,计算关节炎指数;HE染色光镜下观察关节滑膜病理变化;采用ELISA方法检测大鼠血清中TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6水平变化。结果造模成功后的CIA大鼠14 d左右出现炎症反应,30 d左右达高峰,以后炎症逐渐减轻。与同期空白对照组大鼠相比,CIA大鼠血清中TNF-α水平10 d明显升高(P<0.01),IL-1β和IL-6水平20 d明显升高(P<0.05),三者水平均30 d达高峰(P<0.01),以后持续存在,但水平有所降低。结论 CIA大鼠血清中TNF-α、IL-1β和IL-6在RA的整个病程中一直发挥着重要作用。     

比较口服不同亲和力重组耻垢分支杆菌调节免疫的差异

目的:Th1与Th2的平衡紊乱是过敏性哮喘的免疫学基础,本研究通过给予小鼠口服免疫不同亲和力屋尘螨抗原Der p2重组耻垢分枝杆菌,来比较其调节免疫应答的差异.方法:1,分别给予6-8周BALB/c小鼠口服接种Mycobacterium Smegmatis(M.S)、pCW-Der p2-rM.S及pCW-Der p2-PEB1-rM.S,在末次免疫后第14、28、56天分别用夹心ELISA法测定小鼠血清及脾脏淋巴细胞培养上清中IFN-γ、IL-2及IL-4的含量.结果:夹心ELISA结果显示,无论是血清还是脾脏淋巴细胞培养上清中,各组IFN-γ、IL-2水平逐渐升高,IL-4水平逐渐降低,8周时更明显,pCW-Der p2-PEB1-rM.S组与M.S、pCW-Der p2-rM.S组相比有明显统计学差异.体外给予Der p2蛋白刺激后,pCW-Der p2-rM.S及pCW-Der p2-PEB1-rM.S组变化更加明显,而M.S组无明显变化.结论:小鼠口服免疫pCW-Der p2-PEB1-rM.S能明显提高Th1型免疫反应,与pCW-Der p2-rM.S组相比有统计学学差异.三种不同亲和力重组耻垢分枝杆菌经口服后均能诱导小鼠产生Th1型免疫应答,且pCW-Der p2-rM.S及pCW-Der p2-PEB1-rM.S诱导产生的Th1优势应答具有Der p2抗原特异性.本研究弥补了粘膜型疫苗低亲和力的不足,为新型口服疫苗的制备和改进创造了条件.     

乳腺癌肺转移过程中Th1/Th2型细胞因子的动态变化

探究乳腺癌肺转移模型鼠肺组织内Th1/Th2型细胞因子的动态变化。利用皮下接种或尾静脉注射乳腺癌细胞系-4T1细胞的方式,建立乳腺癌肺转移模型。在4T1细胞接种后第7、14、21天分离模型鼠肺组织,通过HE染色、墨汁染色确认模型建立成功后,提取肺组织总RNA,采用Real-time RT-PCR方法,检测肺组织内IFN-γ、IL-4、IL-5、IL-13表达水平的变化。结果显示,尾静脉注射4T1细胞的BALB/c鼠,肺组织内Th1型细胞因子水平呈现先升高后逐渐下降的趋势;而皮下接种4T1细胞的BALB/c鼠,其肺组织内Th1型细胞因子水平一致处于较低水平。与Th1型细胞因子不同,肺组织内Th2型细胞因子水平无论在皮下接种鼠亦或是尾静脉注射鼠均表现为逐渐升高趋势。结果表明,乳腺癌肺转移过程中出现Th1/Th2型细胞因子失衡,并且由刚开始的Th1优势应答逐渐转变为Th2优势应答。     

Aortic VCAM‐1: an early marker of vascular inflammation in collagen‐induced arthritis

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are limited experimental data on vascular involvement in arthritis models. To study the link between CVD and inflammation in RA, we developed a model of vascular dysfunction and articular inflammation by collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) in C57Bl/6 (B6) mice. We studied the expression of vascular inflammatory markers in CIA with and without concomitant hyperlipidic diet (HD). Collagen‐induced arthritis was induced with intradermal injection of chicken type‐II collagen followed by a boost 21 days later. Mice with and without CIA were fed a standard diet or an HD for 12 weeks starting from the day of the boost. Arthritis severity was evaluated with a validated clinical score. Aortic mRNA levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and interleukin‐17 were analysed by quantitative RT‐PCR. Vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 localization in the aortic sinus was determined by immunohistochemistry. Atherosclerotic plaque presence was assessed in aortas. Collagen‐induced arthritis was associated with increased expression of VCAM‐1, independent of diet. VCAM‐1 overexpression was detectable as early as 4 weeks after collagen immunization and persisted after 15 weeks. The HD induced atheroma plaque formation and aortic iNOS expression regardless of CIA. Concomitant CIA and HD had no additive effect on atheroma or VCAM‐1 or iNOS expression. CIA and an HD diet induced a distinct and independent expression of large‐vessel inflammation markers in B6 mice. This model may be relevant for the study of CVD in RA.     

A mechanistic approach to understanding conjugated linoleic acid's role in inflammation using murine models of rheumatoid arthritis

A naturally occurring fatty acid, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), reduces immune-induced TNF and inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression; key mediators of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). On the basis of previous work, it was hypothesized that dietary CLA would act as an anti-inflammatory agent in select animal models of RA. In the collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) model, mice fed CLA (mixed isomers of c9, t11, and t10, c12-CLA) for 3 wk before anticollagen antibody injection had reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced plasma TNF levels and had arthritic scores that were 60% of mice fed corn oil (CO). In the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model, mice fed mixed isomers of CLA for 21 days before immunization had lower IgG(1) titers, earlier signs of joint inflammation, but similar arthritis scores compared with CO fed mice during the remaining 70-day post-injection period. Beginning on day 80 to 133, CLA-fed mice had arthritic scores 70% that of the CO-fed mice. In a second CIA experiment, CLA was fed only after the booster injection. Plasma IgG(1) levels were not reduced and arthritis onset was delayed 4 days in CLA-fed mice compared with the CO-fed mice. Peak arthritis score was similar between CLA and CO-fed mice from day 35 to 56. Because CLA reduced inflammation in the CAIA model, delayed onset of arthritis in the CIA model (CIA experiment 2) and reduced arthritis score after day 80 in the CIA model (CIA experiment 1), we concluded that dietary CLA exhibited anti-inflammatory activity that was dependent on antibody.     

IL-23 Dependent and Independent Stages of Experimental Arthritis: No Clinical Effect of Therapeutic IL-23p19 Inhibition in Collagen-induced Arthritis

IL-23p19 deficient mice have revealed a critical role of IL-23 in the development of experimental autoimmune diseases, such as collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Neutralizing IL-23 after onset of CIA in rats has been shown to reduce paw volume, but the effect on synovial inflammation and the immunological autoimmune response is not clear. In this study, we examined the role of IL-23 at different stages of CIA and during T cell memory mediated flare-up arthritis with focus on changes in B cell activity and Th1/Th17 modulation. Anti-IL-23p19 antibody (anti-IL23p19) treatment, starting 15 days after the type II collagen (CII)-immunization but before clinical signs of disease onset, significantly suppressed the severity of CIA. This was accompanied with significantly lower CII-specific IgG1 levels and lower IgG2a levels in the anti-IL-23p19 treated mice compared to the control group. Importantly, neutralizing IL-23 after the first signs of CIA did not ameliorate the disease. This was in contrast to arthritic mice that underwent an arthritis flare-up since a significantly lower disease score was observed in the IL-23p19 treated mice compared to the control group, accompanied by lower synovial IL-17A and IL-22 expression in the knee joints of these mice. These data show IL-23-dependent and IL-23-independent stages during autoimmune CIA. Furthermore, the memory T cell mediated flare-up arthritis is IL-23-mediated. These data suggest that specific neutralization of IL-23p19 after onset of autoimmune arthritis may not be beneficial as a therapeutic therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, T cell mediated arthritis relapses in patients with RA might be controlled by anti-IL-23p19 treatment.     

Interleukin-35 (IL-35) inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes isolated from mice with collagen-induced arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disorder of the joints that affects 0.5–1 % of adults. Excessive growth of the fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) promotes hyperplasia of synovial tissues and causes its invasion into the bone and cartilage, which eventually causes deformity and dysfunction of affected joints. Interleukin 35 (IL-35) was shown to suppress the inflammatory responses to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) via upregulation of T regulatory cells and suppression of T helper type 17 cells in a mouse model. To study the effects of IL-35 on the proliferation and apoptosis frequency of cultured FLS isolated from mice with CIA as well as to examine the effects of IL-35 on CIA in vivo. Thirty DBA/1 J mice, which are used as an animal model for RA, were divided randomly (ten mice per group) to a CIA group (collagen treatment), a CIA + IL-35 group (collagen and IL-35 treatments), and a control group (no treatment). Starting on the 24th day after collagen administration, IL-35 was injected intraperitoneally into mice of the CIA + IL-35 group once per day for 10 days. An arthritis index was calculated, and pathological analysis of synovial tissue was performed. FLS isolated from CIA mice were treated with various concentrations of IL-35 (12.5–100 ng/ml). The MTT assay was used to examine FLS proliferation, and apoptosis frequency of FLS was detected by flow cytometry. On day 24, the CIA mice began to exhibit arthritis symptoms, and the symptoms rapidly progressed with time. Treatment with IL-35 significantly alleviated arthritis symptoms and reduced the synovial tissue inflammation. In addition, IL-35 treatment inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in cultured FLS from CIA mice in a dose-dependent manner. IL-35 could ameliorate the symptoms of arthritis in the CIA mouse model in vivo and inhibited FLS proliferation while promoting FLS apoptosis in vitro, thereby exhibited the potential in inhibiting the progression of RA.     

胶原诱导型关节炎大鼠的关节影像学特点

目的旨在分析CIA X线片四肢关节的破坏特点,揭示CIA大鼠关节破坏的规律,为规范评分方案提供依据。方法采用П型胶原和弗氏完全佐剂皮下注射清洁级Wistar大鼠,造模成功（每批10只,共3次）后第35天行全身X线钼靶照片,以正常组作为对照、每只大鼠评价96块骨破坏（erosion）和100个关节间隙（joint space narrowing,JSN）;处死动物,取左前肢和右后肢近端第3足趾关节苏木素-伊红（HE）染色,评价中性粒细胞、淋巴细胞、浆细胞浸润、滑膜增生和软骨破坏的情况。结果造模成功后CIA大鼠关节出现明显的红肿,活动受限;HE病理显示,CIA关节存在明显的中性粒细胞、淋巴细胞和浆细胞浸润,滑膜增生,纤维组织增生,软骨破坏;X线片分析结果显示：①广泛性骨质疏松,边缘性骨质侵蚀,关节间隙狭窄或增宽,部分踝关节间隙消失,关节相互融合甚至骨性强直。②67%的骨出现erosion,JSN影响为78%,关节破坏以中、重度为主;③远端、近端趾间关节和踝关节发病率高,损害严重,掌趾关节发病率低,破坏较轻。④后肢关节破坏重于前肢（P〈0.01）,左右肢没有显著性差异（P〉0.05）。结论①滑膜是CIA炎症反应启动的主要病灶,与骨交界的滑膜和血管翳造成了CIA的骨质破坏;②CIA影像学表现关节破坏严重,以远端、近端趾间关节和踝关节为主,这些关节可作为评价破坏程度的选择。本研究对于深入CIA关节破坏的病因病理和进一步规范X线片评分方案具有一定意义。     

Decreased IgG production but increased MIP-1beta expression in collagen-induced arthritis in C-C chemokine receptor 5-deficient mice

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is a widely used model of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovial joints. The pathogenesis of RA and CIA has not been completely defined, but both involve the recruitment of leukocytes and lymphocytes to the joints and Th1-type cell mediated autoimmune responses. The C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is preferentially expressed on Th1 cells and has been strongly implicated in inflammatory process through trafficking of leukocytes and lymphocytes into the sites of inflammation. We investigated the role of the CCR5 in CIA using CCR5 knockout mice (CCR5-/-) in which we analyzed the consequences of CCR5 deficiency for the immune response and inflammation. We found that CCR5-/- mice showed a significant reduction in the incidence of CIA after collagen II (CII)-immunization as compared to wild-type (CCR5+/+) mice. The reduced incidence seen in CCR5-/- mice was associated with these animals having significantly lower IgG levels, especially IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies against CII, as well as an obviously augmented IL-10 production in splenocytes. Overproduction of MIP-1beta in CCR5-deficient mice after CII-immunization may contribute partially to the occurrence of arthritis.     

RGS1 silencing inhibits the inflammatory response and angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis rats through the inactivation of Toll-like receptor signaling pathway

Emerging evidence shows that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression can be induced by the activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway. Regulator of G-protein signaling 1 (RGS1) is observed to be a candidate biomarker for arthritis. Accordingly, the present study aims to determine the potential effects of RGS1 mediating TLR on RA. A rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was established to mimic the features of RA by injection of bovine type II collagen. The rats with CIA were treated with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against RGS1 or TLR pathway activator Poly I:C to elucidate the role of RGS1 in RA progression. The inflammatory factors were measured, and the thoracic gland and spleen indexes as well as the vascular density were determined. The expression levels of RGS1, TLR3, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and interleukin 1 receptor-associated kinase-4 (IRAK4) were determined. RGS1 was robustly increased in RA. The TLR signaling pathway was suppressed by RGS1 silencing. shRNA-mediated depletion of RGS1 was shown to significantly enhance thoracic gland index and inhibit the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-17, spleen index, vascular density, and the expression levels of TLR3, VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, and IRAK4. However, when the rats with CIA were treated with Poly I:C, the trend of effects was opposite. These findings highlight that functional suppression of RGS1 inhibits the inflammatory response and angiogenesis by inactivating the TLR signaling pathway in rats with CIA, thereby providing a novel therapeutic target for RA treatment.     

Methionine aminopeptidase-2 blockade reduces chronic collagen-induced arthritis: potential role for angiogenesis inhibition

The enzyme methionine aminopeptidase-2 (MetAP-2) is thought to play an important function in human endothelial cell proliferation, and as such provides a valuable target in both inflammation and cancer. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with increased synovial vascularity, and hence is a potential therapeutic target for angiogenesis inhibitors. We examined the use of PPI-2458, a selective non-reversible inhibitor of MetAP-2, in disease models of RA, namely acute and chronic collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. Whilst acute CIA is a monophasic disease, CIA induced with murine collagen type II manifests as a chronic relapsing arthritis and mimics more closely the disease course of RA. Our study showed PPI-2458 was able to reduce clinical signs of arthritis in both acute and chronic CIA models. This reduction in arthritis was paralleled by decreased joint inflammation and destruction. Detailed mechanism of action studies demonstrated that PPI-2458 inhibited human endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro, without affecting production of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, we also investigated release of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines from human RA synovial cell cultures, and observed no effect of PPI-2458 on spontaneous expression of cytokines and chemokines, or indeed on the angiogenic molecule vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These results highlight MetAP-2 as a good candidate for therapeutic intervention in RA.     

Relationship between angiogenesis and inflammation in experimental arthritis

Background. Angiogenesis is involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) leading to leucocyte recruitment and inflammation in the synovium. Furthermore, synovial inflammation itself further potentiates endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the reciprocical relationship between synovial inflammation and angiogenesis in a RA model, namely collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Methods. CIA was induced by immunization of DBA/1 mice with collagen type II in adjuvant. Endothelial cells were detected using a GSL-1 lectin-specific immunohistochemical staining on knee joint sections. Angiogenesis, clinical scores and histological signs of arthritis were evaluated from the induction of CIA until the end of the experiment. Angiogenesis was quantified by counting both the isolated endothelial cells and vessels stained on each section. To evaluate the effect of increased angiogenesis on CIA, VEGF gene transfer was performed using an adeno-associated virus encoding VEGF (AAV-VEGF), by intra-muscular or intra-articular injection in mice with CIA. Results. We showed an increase in synovial angiogenesis from day 6 to day 55 after CIA induction, and, moreover, joint vascularization and clinical scores of arthritis were correlated (p < 0.0001, r = 0.61). Vascularization and histological scores were also correlated (p = 0.0006, r = 0.51). Systemic VEGF overexpression in mice with CIA was followed by an aggravation of arthritis as compared to AAV-lacZ control group (p < 0.0001). In contrast, there was no difference in clinical scores between control mice and mice injected within the knee with AAV-VEGF, even if joint vascularization was higher in this group than in all other groups (p = 0,05 versus non-injected group). Intra-articular AAV-VEGF injections induced more severe signs of histological inflammation and bone destruction than AAV-Lac Z or no injection. Conclusion. Angiogenesis and joint inflammation evolve in parallel during collagen-induced arthritis. Furthermore, this work shows that exogenous VEGF can aggravate CIA. It is direct evidence that the increase in joint vascularization leads to an exacerbation of arthritis. Taken together, these results emphasize the role of angiogenesis in inflammatory arthritis. It also suggests an early involvement of angiogenesis in joint inflammation.