Interleukin 6 knock-out mice are resistant to antigen-induced experimental arthritis

In order to assess the potential role of IL-6 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we have compared IL-6 deficient (IL-6 ko) mice and their wild-type (wt) counterpart for the capacity to develop methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA)-induced arthritis. Our data show that IL-6 ko mice are not susceptible to antigen-induced arthritis (AIA). In fact, IL-6 ko mice treated by a standard protocol of immunization with mBSA did not develop joint swelling following intra-articular mBSA injection, nor revealed the characteristic joint lesions by histological examination. Conversely, wt mice treated according to the same protocol developed arthritis about 9 days after intra-articular injection, as detected by knee joint swelling and histological confirmation. We observed that the proliferative response of splenocytes to mBSA was impaired in ko mice following arthritis induction, as compared to the strong response observed in wt mice. Furthermore, anti-mBSA IgG levels were lower in ko mice as compared to wt mice. Finally, we show that sensitivity to AIA can be reconstituted in ko mice by subcutaneous injections of recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6). In addition, co-administration of IL-6 with mBSA by intra-articular injection into the joint was only partially effective in conferring sensitivity to AIA, suggesting the importance of a systemic effct for IL-6, but also that an additional role for this cytokine can be envisaged in the local inflammatory reaction during establishment of AIA.     

Endogenous IL-11 is pro-inflammatory in acute methylated bovine serum albumin/interleukin-1-induced (mBSA/IL-1)arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of interleukin-11 (IL-11) in acute mBSA/IL-1-induced inflammatory arthritis. METHODS: IL-11 was administered via intra-articular (IA) injection into knee joints of C57BL/6 mice and joint histology was assessed. The mitogenic response to IL-11 was measured in wild-type (WT) synovial fibroblasts. IL-1 was used as a comparator in both the studies. The severity of acute methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA)/IL-1 arthritis was determined in WT and IL-11 receptor null (IL-11Ra1-/-) mice. In parallel experiments, a neutralising antibody to IL-11 was administered to WT mice throughout this model. RESULTS: IA injections of IL-11 resulted in mild-to-moderate joint inflammation which was less than that due to IA IL-1. IL-11 had a dose-dependent mitogenic effect on WT synovial fibroblasts (P<0.01). mBSA/IL-1 acute arthritis was reduced in IL-11Ra1-/- versus WT mice (histological arthritis score: 10.1+/-0.5 versus 12.8+/-0.7, respectively; P=0.01). Administration of an IL-11 neutralising antibody to WT mice reduced mBSA/IL-1 acute arthritis scores compared to control antibody (10.6+/-0.7 versus 13.3+/-0.6, respectively; P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that endogenous IL-11 exerts relatively mild but consistent pro-inflammatory effects in acute inflammatory arthritis.     

Joint NOD2/RIPK2 signaling regulates IL-17 axis and contributes to the development of experimental arthritis

Intracellular pattern recognition receptors such as the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors family members are key for innate immune recognition of microbial infection and may play important roles in the development of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatic diseases. In this study, we evaluated the role of NOD1 and NOD2 on development of experimental arthritis. Ag-induced arthritis was generated in wild-type, NOD1(-/-), NOD2(-/-), or receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 2(-/-) (RIPK2(-/-)) immunized mice challenged intra-articularly with methylated BSA. Nociception was determined by electronic Von Frey test. Neutrophil recruitment and histopathological analysis of proteoglycan lost was evaluated in inflamed joints. Joint levels of inflammatory cytokine/chemokine were measured by ELISA. Cytokine (IL-6 and IL-23) and NOD2 expressions were determined in mice synovial tissue by RT-PCR. The NOD2(-/-) and RIPK2(-/-), but not NOD1(-/-), mice are protected from Ag-induced arthritis, which was characterized by a reduction in neutrophil recruitment, nociception, and cartilage degradation. NOD2/RIPK2 signaling impairment was associated with a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (TNF, IL-1β, and CXCL1/KC). IL-17 and IL-17 triggering cytokines (IL-6 and IL-23) were also reduced in the joint, but there is no difference in the percentage of CD4(+) IL-17(+) cells in the lymph node between arthritic wild-type and NOD2(-/-) mice. Altogether, these findings point to a pivotal role of the NOD2/RIPK2 signaling in the onset of experimental arthritis by triggering an IL-17-dependent joint immune response. Therefore, we could propose that NOD2 signaling is a target for the development of new therapies for the control of rheumatoid arthritis.     

Leptin signaling deficiency impairs humoral and cellular immune responses and attenuates experimental arthritis.

Leptin is produced almost exclusively by adipocytes and regulates body weight at the hypothalamic level. In addition, recent studies showed that leptin plays an important role in T lymphocyte responses. To examine the role of leptin in Ag-induced arthritis, the development of joint inflammation was assessed in immunized leptin-deficient mice (ob/ob), +/?, and wild-type mice (+/+) following the administration of methylated BSA into the knees. The results showed that ob/ob mice developed less severe arthritis compared with control mice. The levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNA in the synovium of arthritic knees were lower in ob/ob than in +/? mice. In vitro Ag-specific T cell proliferative responses were significantly decreased in ob/ob mice with lower IFN-gamma and higher IL-10 production, suggesting a shift toward a Th2-type response in ob/ob mice. The serum levels of anti-methylated BSA Abs of any isotype were significantly decreased in arthritic ob/ob mice compared with controls. Essentially identical results were obtained in db/db mice, which lack the expression of the long isoform of leptin receptor. By RT-PCR, we observed that B lymphocytes express leptin receptor mRNA, indicating that in addition to its effect on the cellular response, leptin may exert a direct effect on B cell function. In conclusion, leptin contributes to the mechanisms of joint inflammation in Ag-induced arthritis by regulating both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.     

Inhibitors of reactive oxygen intermediates suppress bacterial cell wall-induced arthritis.

Peritoneal and peripheral blood monocyte-macrophages from inbred Lewis (LEW) rats generate higher levels of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in response to group A streptococcal cell walls (SCW) than do similar populations of cells from histocompatible Fischer rats. This differential sensitivity of the phagocytes to SCW is reflected in differences in susceptibility of the two strains to the development of arthritis in response to SCW. After systemic administration of the SCW, LEW rats develop acute and chronic erosive polyarthritis, whereas the Fischer rats are arthritis resistant. Inasmuch as these data suggested that the SCW-induced release of inflammatory cell products such as ROI might be an important contributory factor in the pathogenesis of arthritis in the LEW rats, the animals were injected with SCW and treated with ROI inhibitors. A single intraarticular injection of superoxide dismutase or catalase significantly reduced the SCW-induced inflammatory response and evolution of erosive arthritis in the treated animals (articular index 3.6 +/- 0.36 for SCW only vs 1.4 +/- 0.3 for SCW + SOD; p less than 0.001; n = 6). These data indicate that ROI play a pivotal role in synovitis and, furthermore, that suppression of these inflammatory mediators modulates both acute and chronic SCW-induced inflammation of the joint.     

The role of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in antibody-induced arthritis

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large group of enzymes responsible for matrix degradation. Among them, the family of gelatinases (MMP-2/gelatinase A and MMP-9/gelatinase B) is overproduced in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Because of their degradative effects on the extracellular matrix, gelatinases have been believed to play an important role in progression and cartilage degradation in this disease, although their precise roles are yet to be defined. To clarify these roles, we investigated the development of Ab-induced arthritis, one of the murine models of rheumatoid arthritis, in MMP-2 or MMP-9 knockout (KO) mice. Surprisingly, the MMP-2 KO mice exhibited severe clinical and histologic arthritis than wild-type mice. The MMP-9 KO mice displayed milder arthritis. Recovery from exacerbated arthritis in the MMP-2 KO mice was possible by injection of wild-type fibroblasts. These results indicated a suppressive role of MMP-2 and a pivotal role of MMP-9 in the development of inflammatory joint disease.     

Studies on antigen-induced arthritis in mice. III. Cell and serum transfer experiments.

Antigen-induced arthritis in mice occurs after immunization and subsequent intraarticular challenge with methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA). In adoptive transfer experiments, susceptible C57BL mice and resistant CBA mice were compared in their capacity to express delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) by ear assay, and to express arthritis. The expression of DTH could be transferred incrementally by lymphoid cells in C57BL mice, but not in CBA mice. Both immune lymphoid cells and, to a much lesser extent, serum transferred the capacity to develop arthritis in C57BL mice. The reactivity of transferred cells was abolished by anti-Thy-1 but enhanced by enrichment for T cells with anti-immunoglobulin columns. If this model disease can be equated with human rheumatoid synovitis, the lesions in the human disease would be an expression of a T cell-dependent activity.     

Joint inflammation in mice induced by a MT4+ Lyt-2- T cell clone. Characteristics and the induction of flare-up reactions

Joint inflammations were induced in mice by cloned MT4+ Lyt-2- T cells specific for methylated bovine serum albumin. This was done either by intra-articular or by i.v. administration of the cloned T cells, together with local injection of the antigen. Local rechallenge with methylated bovine serum albumin several weeks after waning of the joint inflammation caused a flare-up reaction. The inflammations were quantified by a 99mTc-uptake method and examined histologically. The arthritis induced by the cloned T cells showed aspects of a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction characterized by an intense infiltrate which resembles the inflammation in the human rheumatoid joint. The data presented show that joint inflammations can be induced by T cells only and that, after waning, reexposition to the original antigen can induce a flare-up reaction. The data suggest a central role of T cells in the induction and the exacerbations observed in rheumatoid arthritis.     

A complement C3 inhibitor specifically targeted to sites of complement activation effectively ameliorates collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) represents an animal model of autoimmune polyarthritis with similarities to human rheumatoid arthritis, and therapy with various systemic complement-inhibitory proteins has been investigated in this model with varying results. We investigated the use of complement receptor 2 (CR2)-Crry, a complement inhibitor with the ability to target C3 breakdown products deposited in a rheumatic joint. Following induction of CIA in DBA/1J mice, animals were treated with either PBS or CR2-Crry (every other day, every 4 days, or with a single injection). The severity of clinical disease was significantly reduced in all CR2-Crry-treated groups compared with controls. Joints from mice receiving multiple doses of CR2-Crry showed significantly decreased inflammatory cell infiltrate, cartilage damage, pannus formation, and bone damage. CR2-Crry treatment also significantly decreased production of anti-collagen IgG and the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. IL-10 and IL-1Ra levels were increased in CR2-Crry-treated mice. CR2-Crry localized preferentially in the joints of mice with CIA. Analysis of IgG and C3 deposition in the joints of treated animals indicated that both complement regulation and the modulation of anti-collagen Ab production contributed to the protective effects of CR2-Crry. Of interest, a previous study reported that Crry-Ig, an untargeted counterpart of CR2-Crry, had minimal effect on disease, even when administered at a sufficiently high dose to maintain chronic complement inhibition.     

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr)-dependent Il-22 expression by type 3 innate lymphoid cells control of acute joint inflammation

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) controls several inflammatory and metabolic pathways involved in various diseases, including the development of arthritis. Here, we investigated the role of AHR activation in IL-22-dependent acute arthritis using the K/BxN serum transfer model. We observed an overall reduction of cytokine expression in Ahr-deficient mice, along with decreased signs of joint inflammation. Conversely, we report worsened arthritis symptoms in Il-22 deficient mice. Pharmacological stimulation of AHR with the agonist VAG539, as well as injection of recombinant IL-22, given prior arthritogenic triggering, attenuated inflammation and reduced joint destruction. The protective effect of VAG539 was abrogated in Il-22 deficient mice. Finally, conditional Ahr depletion of Rorc-expressing cells was sufficient to attenuate arthritis, thereby uncovering a previously unsuspected role of AHR in type 3 innate lymphoid cells during acute arthritis.     

Antigen-specific T cells transduced with IL-10 ameliorate experimentally induced arthritis without impairing the systemic immune response to the antigen

For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, efficient drug delivery methods to the inflamed joints need to be developed. Because T cells expressing an appropriate autoantigen-specific receptor can migrate to inflamed lesions, it has been reasoned that they can be employed to deliver therapeutic agents. To examine the ability and efficiency of such T cells as a vehicle, we employed an experimentally induced model of arthritis. Splenic T cells from DO11.10 TCR transgenic mice specific for OVA were transduced with murine IL-10. Adoptive transfer of the IL-10-transduced DO11.10 splenocytes ameliorated OVA-induced arthritis despite the presence of around 95% nontransduced cells. Using green fluorescent protein as a marker for selection, the number of transferred cells needed to ameliorate the disease was able to be reduced to 10(4). Preferential accumulation of the transferred T cells was observed in the inflamed joint, and the improvement in the disease was not accompanied by impairment of the systemic immune response to the Ag, suggesting that the transferred T cells exert their anti-inflammatory task locally, mainly in the joints where the Ag exists. In addition, IL-10-transduced DO11.10 T cells ameliorated methylated BSA-induced arthritis when the arthritic joint was coinjected with OVA in addition to methylated BSA. These results suggest that T cells specific for a joint-specific Ag would be useful as a therapeutic vehicle in rheumatoid arthritis for which the arthritic autoantigen is still unknown.     

IL-18 is redundant in T-cell responses and in joint inflammation in antigen-induced arthritis

IL-18 is an important cofactor in Th1 immune responses and it has additional roles in inflammation. Recent reports suggest the contribution of IL-18 to immune responses may vary between mouse strains and immune contexts. We investigated the contribution of IL-18 to T-cell activation and joint inflammation in Ag-induced arthritis (AIA) in C57Bl/6 mice. AIA and cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions were induced in wild-type (WT) and IL-18-/- C57Bl/6 mice, and Ag-specific T-cell proliferation and IFN-gamma and IL-4 production were measured. The humoral immune response was measured as serum antibody to the disease-initiating Ag, methylated BSA (mBSA). Splenocyte production of IL-6 was measured by ELISA. To confirm the dependence of this model on Th1-cell-mediated immunity, IL-12p40-/- mice were similarly studied. WT mice developed synovitis, joint effusion, cartilage destruction and bone damage associated with induction of DTH, and in vitro Ag-specific T-cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production. Unexpectedly, IL-18-/- mice developed AIA and indices of T-cell activation were similar to those of WT mice. In contrast, IL-12p40-/- mice did not develop AIA, DTH or T-cell activation. WT and IL-18-/- mice, but not IL-12p40-/- mice, developed significantly increased serum antibody to mBSA compared with naive controls. WT and IL-18-/- splenocytes produced high levels of IL-6, whereas IL-12p40-/- cells had significantly lower IL-6 production compared with both. In conclusion, IL-18 is redundant both as a Th1 response cofactor and inflammatory cytokine, whereas IL-12p40-/- is a key cytokine, in AIA in C57Bl/6 mice.     

Hormonal regulation of the release of plasminogen activators and of a specific activator inhibitor from endometrial tissue in culture

Two types of plasminogen activator (PA), t-PA (tissue type) and u-PA (urokinase type), are released from endometrial tissue in organ culture, as judged by immunological identification and molecular weight. Addition of estradiol to the medium greatly enhanced the release of u-PA, whereas that of t-PA was not low. Addition of progesterone, on the other hand, after priming of the endometrial tissue with estradiol, resulted in a much lower release of both types of PA. This pattern of PA release in response to hormonal stimulation in vitro agrees with previous observations of the PA activity of endometrial secretion in vivo. Endometrial tissue also released a PA inhibitor with molecular weight of approximately 50,000, which complexed both t-PA and u-PA. In cultures stimulated with estradiol the amount of free u-PA increased gradually during incubation and minor amounts of free t-PA appeared after 4-6 days culture. The amount of complexes, and thus the amount of PA inhibitor also increased under influence of estradiol. In cultures stimulated with progesterone, on the other hand, only minor amounts of free u-PA and no free t-PA was detected. The inhibitor might be of either the endothelial or the placental type, or both.     

Tumor Necrosis Factor,but Not Neutrophils,Alters the Metabolic Profile in Acute Experimental Arthritis

Metabolic alterations are associated with arthritis apart from obesity. However, it is still unclear which is the underlying process behind these metabolic changes. Here, we investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in this process in an acute model of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA). Immunized male BALB/c mice received an intra-articular injection of PBS (control) or methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA) into their knees, and were also pre-treated with different drugs: Etanercept, an anti-TNF drug, DF2156A, a CXCR1/2 receptor antagonist, or a monoclonal antibody RB6-8C5 to deplete neutrophils. Local challenge with mBSA evoked an acute neutrophil influx into the knee joint, and enhanced the joint nociception, along with a transient systemic metabolic alteration (higher levels of glucose and lipids, and altered adipocytokines). Pre-treatment with the conventional biological Etanercept, an inhibitor of TNF action, ameliorated the nociception and the acute joint inflammation dominated by neutrophils, and markedly improved many of the altered systemic metabolites (glucose and lipids), adipocytokines and PTX3. However, the lessening of metabolic changes was not due to diminished accumulation of neutrophils in the joint by Etanercept. Reduction of neutrophil recruitment by pre-treating AIA mice with DF2156A, or even the depletion of these cells by using RB6-8C5 reduced all of the inflammatory parameters and hypernociception developed after AIA challenge, but could not prevent the metabolic changes. Therefore, the induction of joint inflammation provoked acute metabolic alterations which were involved with TNF. We suggest that the role of TNF in arthritis-associated metabolic changes is not due to local neutrophils, which are the major cells present in this model, but rather due to cytokines.     

Construction and expression of a hybrid plasminogen activator gene with sequences from non-protease region of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and protease region of urokinase (u-PA)

There are two physiological plasminogen activators (PAs), tissue-type PA (t-PA) and urokinase (u-PA) which possess distinct immunological and biochemical characteristics. Using genetic engineering techniques a hybrid t:u-PA cDNA, comprised of amino acid (aa) sequences corresponding to the non-protease region (aa 1-261) of t-PA and the protease region (aa 132-411) of u-PA, was constructed. The t:u-PA gene after insertion into the SV40 expression vector was expressed in monkey Cos-1 cells. The 66-67 kDa t:u-PA was produced in an enzymatically active form. The fibrinolytic activity of the t:u-PA could be quenched by anti-urokinase as well as by anti-t-PA sera. Like urokinase, the t:u-PA showed a high intrinsic plasminogen activation. This activity, as in the case of t-PA, was stimulated by fibrin. The u-PA, on the other hand, stimulated plasminogen activation marginally in the presence of fibrin. Both the t:u-PA and t-PA showed binding affinity for fibrin clot. This study strongly suggests the autonomous nature of the structural domains in PA and also demonstrates the feasibility of shuffling these domains without loss of their functional activities.     

Tissue plasminogen activator is released into cultured medium by cultured human uveal melanocytes

Melanoma cells produce tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) that plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. The production of t-PA by normal human uveal melanocytes has not been reported previously. In order to explore this possibility, we studied the production of t-PA by cultured human uveal melanocytes and compared that with the production by cultured human uveal melanoma cells and epidermal melanocytes. Human adult uveal melanocytes were isolated and cultured from donor eyes. The cells were cultured in serum-free medium for 48 h and the conditioned medium then collected for the plasminogen activator (PA) activity assay. Free PA activity was tested in an amidolytic assay using a t-PA standard curve. PA type was identified by fibrinography and antihuman t-PA and urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) blocking antibodies. Free PA activity was found in the conditioned medium of normal melanocytes and melanoma cells. The predominant PA activity was t-PA. Normal uveal melanocytes produced more t-PA (3.23 +/- 0.73 IU/105 cells/24 h) than that of epidermal melanocytes (1.25 IU/105 cells/24 h) but much less than uveal melanoma cells (11.0 +/- 3.39 IU/105 cells/24 h). Western blot analysis revealed that most t-PA in conditioned media were one-chain t-PA with molecular weight of 69 kDa. Our study indicates that uveal melanocytes may contribute to the free t-PA activity previously found in aqueous humor and choroidal eye cup superfusions. Therefore, this function of uveal melanocytes may play a role in intraocular matrix remodeling, fibrinolysis and aqueous humor outflow.     

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.