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。     

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...     

组织蛋白酶S与ApoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化的实验研究

目的:观察组织蛋白酶S(Cathepsin S)在不同周龄我脂蛋白E基因缺陷(ApoE-/-)小鼠主动脉的表达,初步探讨Cathepsin S对ApoE-/-小鼠动脉粥样硬化(As)病变的影响.方法:将16只8周龄ApoE-/-小鼠随机分为两组:16周龄组(n=8),24周龄组(n=8),均饲以高脂饮食,分别在16周龄和24周龄处死动物.采用普通光镜、病理图象分析法测定主动脉As斑块面积及管腔面积;免疫组织化学染色方法观察组织蛋白酶S(Cathepsin S)在不同周龄ApoE-/-小鼠主动脉的表达.结果:16周龄组ApoE-/-小鼠主动脉根部出现As病变;与16周龄组ApoE-/-小鼠相比,24周龄组ApoE-/-小鼠主动脉根部As病变显著增强(P＜0.01),免疫组化显示Cathepsin S表达明显增加(P＜0.01).结论:Cathepsin S在ApoE-/-小鼠主动脉的表达随As病变程度增强而显著增加.     

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。     

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。     

茶多酚对ApoE~(-/-)小鼠肠道菌群多样性的影响

目的以高脂饲料饲养的SPF级C57 BL/6 ApoE-/-小鼠作为动物模型,研究茶多酚采食对其肠道菌群多样性的影响。方法通过随机饮水的方式给予ApoE-/-小鼠0.4、0.8和1.6 g/L的茶多酚,处理14 d时用PCR-DGGE分析对照组(CK)和茶多酚组小鼠新鲜粪便中肠道菌群的相似性和多样性。结果 UPGMA聚类分析表明,低剂量茶多酚组(LTP)、中剂量茶多酚组(MTP)这两组与对照组(CK)、高剂量茶多酚组(HTP)聚为两大簇。PCA分析显示,LTP组与CK组、MTP组、HTP组分别聚集在不同位置,有明显界限;多样性数据分析显示:CK组DGGE图谱的丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数(H')与茶多酚组差异无统计学意义(P0.05);CK组与MTP组的均匀度(E)差异存在统计学意义(P0.05,P=0.015),说明中剂量茶多酚作用14 d后与对照组肠道菌群的菌群分配相比均一性显著下降。结论连续处理14 d时CK组与LTP组、MTP组小鼠肠道菌群差异有统计学意义,即茶多酚对ApoE-/-小鼠肠道菌群多样性有显著影响。     

双歧杆菌三联活菌对肥胖小鼠的改善作用及其机制

探讨双歧杆菌三联活菌对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠的改善作用及其机制。

将24只LDLR^－/－小鼠随机分为正常组（n = 8,普通饲料,灌胃生理盐水）、高脂组（n = 8,高脂饲料,灌胃生理盐水）和干预组（n = 8,高脂饲料,灌胃双歧杆菌三联活菌）。所有小鼠均干预16周,每2周记录小鼠体质量,第15周进行口服葡萄糖耐量试验。小鼠处死后,检测血清中脂质和胰岛素指标;采用RT-PCR分析回肠中炎症因子和肠道紧密连接蛋白ZO-1、Occludin的mRNA相对表达量;采用HE染色评估回肠组织病理变化;采用16S rDNA高通量测序分析小鼠肠道微生物群变化特点。

与正常组相比,高脂组小鼠表现出明显的体质量增加、糖脂代谢紊乱、回肠炎症水平增加和肠道微生物群紊乱。干预后,干预组小鼠体质量下降,糖脂代谢紊乱改善,回肠炎症因子TLR4和TNF-α相对表达量显著下降（均P＜0.05）;而肠道紧密连接蛋白ZO-1和Occludin相对表达量显著增加（均P＜0.05）。测序结果表明,干预组小鼠肠道菌群中Firmicutes和Bifidobacterium丰度增加。

双歧杆菌三联活菌可能通过优化肥胖小鼠的肠道微生物群结构,增加Firmicutes和Bifidobacterium丰度,进而减轻肥胖小鼠体质量,调节糖脂代谢,降低肠道内炎症和修复肠黏膜屏障。

     

糖脂代谢性疾病模型小鼠肠道菌群特征分析

基于16S rDNA测序研究非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)、2型糖尿病(T2D)及动脉粥样硬化(AS)小鼠的肠道菌群特征, 分析上述疾病肠道微生物的异同。

以SPF级C57BL/6J雄鼠为对象, 分别采用高脂饮食制备NAFLD模型, 高脂饮食联合小剂量链脲佐菌素腹腔注射建立T2D模型, ApoE^-/-小鼠高脂饮食诱导AS模型, 另设对照组, 每组10只。采用试剂盒测定小鼠血清中总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)的水平。收集粪便样本, 以Illumina MiSeq测序平台, 采用QIIME2软件对肠道菌群的可分类操作单元(OTUs)数量, Alpha、Beta多样性和菌群多样性指数以及差异菌门、菌属等进行综合分析与评价, 并对肠道菌群代谢功能进行预测。

与对照组小鼠比, T2D组、NAFLD组、AS组血清中TC、TG和LDL-C水平均显著升高, 菌群多样性指数显著降低(F=14.33, P < 0.01), Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes比值逐渐升高; 双歧杆菌属(Bifidobacterium)丰度在AS组、T2D组中显著增加(F=12.15, P < 0.01), 在NAFLD组中显著下降(F=12.15, P < 0.05), 乳杆菌属(Lactobacillus)丰度在NAFLD组、AS组中著降低(F=9.35, P < 0.01), 在T2D组中显著降低。关联分析表明Lactobacillus、Akkermansia等与血脂呈负相关, Faecalibaculum、Blautia等与血脂呈正相关。肠道菌群参与代谢性疾病主要涉及碳水化合物代谢、氨基酸代谢、脂质代谢以及能量代谢等通路。

本研究阐明了NAFLD、T2D、AS肠道微生物组成与变化的共性和个性特征, 为靶向调控肠道微生物治疗代谢性疾病提供科学依据。

     

高脂摄入对小鼠空肠微生物群落结构及功能的损伤

探讨高脂饲养对动物肠道菌群结构及功能的影响。

选择60只8周龄的清洁级雌性KM小鼠, 随机分为3组: 正常饮食组(ND组)、高脂饮食组(HD组)和饥饿组(LD组), 每组20只。预饲期2周, 正饲期4周, 实验结束称重后处死小鼠, 采集小鼠空肠内容物, 采用16S rDNA测序技术分析空肠菌群结构多样性和功能差异。

(1) 不同饲喂方式下各组小鼠体质量变化差异有统计学意义(F=48.859 0, P < 0.05);(2)16S rDNA分析表明, ND组、HD组和LD组小鼠空肠菌群OTUs数量分别为1 218、1 724和1 769个, 其中特有OTUs数量HD组和LD组显著高于ND组, HD组和LD组的Chao1指数和Ace指数显著高于ND组(F=136.747 0、275.740 0, 均P < 0.05);(3)不同饲喂方式下小鼠空肠鉴定出的微生物归为12个门, Bacteroidota和Firmicutes为优势菌门; 丰度大于1%的菌属有17个, 物种注释发现HD组和LD组分别有11个、6个菌属丰度显著增加; 在科水平, Bacteroidaceae和Erysipelotrichaceae在HD组显著高于其他2组(F=5.795 0、154.733 0, 均P < 0.05), Lactobacillaceae和Muribaculaceae在LD组显著高于其他2组(F=9.576 0、7.139 0, 均P < 0.05), Prevotellaceae和Helicobacteraceae在ND组显著高于其他2组(F=130.123 0、20.321 0, 均P < 0.05);(4)KEGG功能预测发现不同饲喂方式小鼠空肠微生物的功能主要在碳水化合物代谢、复制和修复等方面富集; 通过PPIs聚类发现空肠微生物主要富集在碳水化合物代谢、能量吸收等方面。

高脂饲喂使小鼠肠道菌群结构发生变化, 有益菌数量减少, 进而损伤肠道上皮组织, 破坏肠道屏障, 使其功能发生紊乱。

     

短链脂肪酸丁酸抑制动脉粥样硬化形成及其分子机制

本研究通过观察丁酸对动脉粥样硬化斑块形成以及肠道组织结构和功能的影响,探讨丁酸防治动脉粥样硬化的效应及可能机制.选取8周龄雄性载脂蛋白E基因敲除(apolipoprotein E-knockout,ApoE-/-)小鼠,随机分成对照组(高脂高胆固醇饲料+饮水中给予200 mmol/L氯化钠,n = 10)和丁酸组(高脂...     

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.     

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.     

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。     

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.     

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。     

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.