Increased serum levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and bone sialoprotein in rats with collagen arthritis.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum levels of cartilage and bone macromolecules can be used to monitor tissue destruction in experimental arthritis in rats. Serum levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) were measured by novel immunoassays in the chronic and destructive arthritis induced in DA rats after immunization with autologous rat native collagen type II in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Increased serum levels of COMP and BSP were seen on day 21 after immunization, and even higher levels were observed on day 28 at termination of the experiment, paralleling increases in the clinical joint score and histopathological signs of cartilage and bone erosions.

Immunization with alum-collagen II complex suppresses the development of collagen-induced arthritis in rats by deviating the immune response.

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is an experimental rat model sharing a number of features with human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The model is associated with a proinflammatory (TH1) type of immune response and treatments with cytokines associated with TH2 immune responses are beneficial. Since agents with TH1-inducing properties, such as Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA), are necessary for disease induction, it is of interest to investigate whether an adjuvant with TH2-inducing properties affects CIA in a different way than does FIA.

Common commercial cosmetic products induce arthritis in the DA rat.

Many different agents, including mineral oil and silicone, have the capacity to act as immunological adjuvants, i.e., they can contribute to the activation of the immune system.

Amelioration of collagen II-induced arthritis in rats by the type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor Rolipram.

The effect of Rolipram, a selective inhibitor of the cyclic AMP specific phosphodiesterase (PDE IV) was evaluated in the rat collagen type II (RCII)-induced arthritis model in the DA rat. Rolipram was given either shortly before expected onset of disease (days 10-14) or shortly after the onset of clinically evident arthritis (days 15-19 after immunization). Administration at days 10-14 delayed the onset of arthritis for approximately 5 days, but the severity of arthritis was thereafter comparable to that seen in a non-treated control group.

Cytokine production in muscle tissue of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Objective: To study cytokine expression in muscle tissues of patients with inflammatory myopathies and to compare the profiles of patients with polymyositis (PM), inclusion body myositis (IBM), and dermatomyositis (DM).

Methods: We performed indirect immunohistochemistry studies of muscle tissue sections with a panel of 16 different cytokine-specific monoclonal antibodies, directed against interleukin-1alpha, (IL-1alpha), IL-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF beta1), TGF beta2, and TGF beta3 in 5 untreated patients each with PM, DM, and IBM and in 4 normal controls. Fresh frozen muscle tissue sections were fixed in formaldehyde before the procedure.

Production of antibodies to gliadin by peripheral blood lymphocytes in children with celiac disease: the use of an enzyme-linked immunospot technique for screening and follow-up.

Problems in the diagnosis of celiac disease are that a long time is needed between challenge with gluten and the appearance of the typical diagnostic morphologic signs in gut mucosa. Furthermore, local immunity to gliadin is only slowly and often incompletely mirrored by serum IgA anti-gliadin antibody (AGA) levels. It is known that a local IgA-associated immune response in the gut may be better and more quickly mirrored by an increase of circulating IgA-producing cells against the immunogen than by IgA serum antibodies.

Altered Th1/Th2 balance associated with non-major histocompatibility complex genes in collagen-induced arthritis in resistant and non-resistant rat strains.

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is a T cell-dependent disease in which susceptibility is controlled by genes both within and outside the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In the present study, we compared the humoral responses and kinetics of cytokine secretion patterns in the draining lymph nodes of arthritis-susceptible DA rats and arthritis-resistant F344 and DA MHC congenic PVG.1AV1 rats immunized with rat type II collagen (RCII) in incomplete Freund's adjuvant.

Cytokine production in synovial tissue of mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

The kinetics of cytokine production in arthritic limbs of mice with CIA was determined by using modified immunohistochemical techniques. Tissue cryostat sections of undecalcified whole paws were analysed for the presence of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta2) and TGF-beta3. Locally produced TNF-alpha, IL-6 and TGF-beta2 were observed within the lining layer, sublining and pannus at all stages of disease.

Characteristics of synovial fluid effusion in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in the DA rat; a comparison of histology and antibody reactivities in an experimental chronic arthritis model and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

We have characterized the cellular content and some antibody reactivities in synovial fluid (SF) from DA rats with CIA. Since CIA is widely used as a model for RA, in which many studies concerning immune responses are performed on SF samples, we considered it important to describe the local, disease-causing immune reactions in CIA. At the peak of disease (day 22 after immunization), the major cell population in CIA SF was granulocytes (72%), but macrophages (17.

A comparison between ELISPOT methods for the detection of cytokine producing cells: greater sensitivity and specificity using ELISA plates as compared to nitrocellulose membranes.

We have used the ELISPOT method employing plastic ELISA plates without substrate in agar for the detection of single cells producing interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). When using PBMC directly stimulated in the assay wells with T cell mitogens it was possible to measure production of human IFN-gamma at an earlier time point and with a higher sensitivity compared to conventional nitrocellulose plates. The plastic surface was not autostimulatory for IFN-gamma production, as seems to be the case for nitrocellulose surfaces.

Association between ongoing anti-C1q antibody production in peripheral blood and proliferative nephritis in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim of this study was to compare ongoing production of anti-C1q antibodies (anti-C1q) in peripheral blood with serum anti-C1q levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially in patients with nephritis. Using the ELISPOT technique for the detection of IgG and IgA anti-C1q production, 21 patients with active SLE were investigated. ELISAs for IgG and IgA anti-C1q were compared with the ELISPOT results.

Dynamic expression of transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-beta) and their type I and type II receptors in the synovial tissue of arthritic rats.

A well characterized animal model that shares many characteristic features with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DA rats. Recent studies have demonstrated that TGF-beta, a multifunctional cytokine, is an important modulator of the immune response in CIA, and possibly also in RA. In this study we have investigated the expression of the precursor forms of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, as well as TGF-beta type I receptor (TGF-betaRI) and TGF-beta type II receptor (TGF-betaRII) in the synovial tissue of arthritic rats during the course of the disease.

Susceptibility of DA rats to arthritis induced with adjuvant oil or rat collagen is determined by genes both within and outside the major histocompatibility complex.

Inbred DA rats are remarkably susceptible to arthritis induced both by non-immunogenic mineral oil only (OIA) and by rat collagen II together with mineral oil (rCIA). This fact enables interesting studies concerning which DA genes are associated with the arthritogenicity of adjuvant oil and collagen, respectively. In this paper the authors have investigated the role of genes within and outside the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), in this respect by comparative susceptibility studies in inbred rat strains (DA, LEW) and MHC-congenic strains (DA.

Expression and function of a CD4-like molecule in parathyroid tissue.

Background: Parathyroid tissue expresses the T-lymphocyte antigens CD3 and CD4, and parathyroid CD3 has earlier been proposed to interact in the regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) release.

Methods: Anti-Leu3a, a monoclonal antibody recognizing CD4, was used to stain parathyroid tissue immunohistochemically, to influence PTH secretion from enzymatically dispersed parathyroid cells, and to immunoprecipitate parathyroid CD4. Northern blot and polymerase chain reaction were used to clarify the similarity between parathyroid and lymphocytic CD4.

Protracted, relapsing and demyelinating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in DA rats immunized with syngeneic spinal cord and incomplete Freund's adjuvant.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a model for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, MS is a chronic, relapsing and demyelinating disease, whereas EAE in rats is typically a brief and monophasic disorder showing little demyelination. We demonstrate here that DA rats develop severe, protracted and relapsing EAE (SPR-EAE) after a subcutaneous immunization at the tail base with syngeneic spinal cord and incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA).

Expression and function of a CD3-like molecule on normal and abnormal human parathyroid cells.

Background: Normal and abnormal human parathyroid tissue express the T-lymphocyte protein CD4, and parathyroid and lymphocyte cells show similarities with respect to mechanisms of calcium permeability and regulation of the cytoplasmic calcium concentration.

Methods: Anti-Leu4, a monoclonal antibody recognizing the T-lymphocyte glycoprotein complex CD3, is used to immunohistochemically stain normal and abnormal human parathyroid cells and to explore influences on the parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion of enzymatically dispersed parathyroid cells.

Results: Parathyroid glands of patients with different forms of hyperparathyroidism displayed variable expression of the anti-CD3 reactive complex.

Immunopathogenesis and immunotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis: an area in transition.

In years to come, new therapeutic modalities for the treatment of chronic arthritis will be launched for general clinical use. These therapies, until today only used in clinical studies, are based on knowledge obtained from animal models of chronic arthritis. This knowledge not only ushers therapeutic use in humans: in many settings, the animal studies have proven to be irreplacable tools to get insights into the pathogenesis of chronic arthritis.

Detection of cytokine producing cells in the synovial membrane from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To develop and evaluate a new immunohistochemical method to study the localisation and phenotype of individual cytokine producing cells in synovial biopsy specimens in rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: Cryopreserved sections of synovial tissue from nine patients with rheumatoid arthritis were incubated with carefully selected cytokine specific antibodies detecting 19 different cytokines, after fixation of the specimens with paraformaldehyde and using saponin to permeabilise the cell membranes.

Results: The immunohistochemical method yielded reproducible and distinct staining patterns, in which the cytokines accumulated mainly in the Golgi apparatus of producer cells, indicating that the method preferentially detected local synthesis rather than cytokine uptake.

TNF-alpha dominates cytokine mRNA expression in lymphoid tissues of rats developing collagen- and oil-induced arthritis.

Experimental arthritis can be induced in the DA rat strain with rat type II collagen (RCII) administered in Freund's incomplete adjuvant oil (FIA) or with only FIA. If ovalbumin (Ova), is added to these arthritogens the development of arthritis is blocked. To investigate the mechanisms responsible for induction of arthritis, as well as inhibition of arthritis, a kinetic study of the local cytokine expression in lymph nodes has been performed after immunization with the above mentioned agents.

Specific and long-lasting protection from collagen-induced arthritis and oil-induced arthritis in DA rats by administration of immunogens.

DA rats develop transient arthritis after subcutaneous immunization with adjuvant-oil, while chronic arthritis and collagen autoreactivity ensues when collagen is added to the oil. We show here that DA rats can be protected from oil-induced arthritis (OIA) and rat collagen-induced arthritis (rCIA) by addition of antigen to these arthritogenic inocula. We have investigated this remarkable phenomenon and demonstrate that both foreign and self antigens can be protective, apparently provided they are immunogenic; hence HSP-65kDa, ovalbumin, rat myelin basic protein, rat IgG and bovine albumin are effective while rat albumin is not.