Collagen-induced arthritis.

The mouse model collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is a widely studied autoimmune model of rheumatoid arthritis. In this model, autoimmune arthritis is induced by immunization with type II collagen (CII) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. This unit describes the steps necessary for the acquisition, handling, and preparation of CII, in addition to the selection of mouse strains, proper immunization technique, and methods for evaluation of the incidence and severity of arthritis. In this model, the first signs of arthritis appear approximately 21 to 28 days after immunization. The protocols in this unit should provide the investigator with all the necessary information required to reproducibly induce a high incidence of CIA in genetically susceptible strains of mice, and to critically evaluate the pathology of the disease.