Complete Freund's adjuvant promotes the increases of IFN-gamma and nitric oxide in suppressing chronic arthritis induced by pristane.

The aim of this study was to determine therapeutic effects of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) on the progression and relapsing of pristine-induced arthritis (PIA) and investigate the mechanism involved. Chronic relapsing arthritis was induced by pristine in LEW rats. After onset of arthritis, rats were intradermally injected CFA and rats in control group were injected the same volume of PBS.

Complete Freund's adjuvant suppresses the development and progression of pristane-induced arthritis in rats.

The present study produced the novel finding that treatment with a nonarthritogenic dose of Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) before the onset of pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) could prevent the development of PIA. Surprisingly, treatment with nonarthritogenic and arthritogenic doses of CFA could almost cure the ongoing PIA. CFA treatment also suppressed pathological changes, such as inflammatory cell infiltration, pannus formation, bone destruction, and new bone formation.