Lysosomes as mediators of parenchymal lesions in adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

Application of papaya latex-induced rat paw inflammation: model for evaluation of slowly acting antiarthritic drugs

Papaya latex-induced rat paw inflammation model for evaluating antiinflammatory activity has been developed and reported earlier. A number of drugs viz. aspirin, indomethacin, piroxicam, ibuprofen, prednisolone, levamisole, chloroquine, and boswellic acids showed antiinflammatory activity in this model. As the last three drugs showing the activity belonged to the group of slowly acting antiarthritic drugs, this present study was undertaken to study in detail the sensitivity of this model for slowly acting, clinically effective, antiarthritic drugs viz. chloroquine, levamisole, penicillamine, aurothioglucose, cyclophosphamide, and boswellic acids. These drugs are known to show no appreciable activity in the known models of inflammation and arthritis. All these drugs tested in three graded doses showed dose-related significant antiinflammatory activity in this model, whereas those drugs in the carrageenan model tested in similar doses showed insignificant activity. Aspirin employed as a reference standard showed significant activity in both the models. Thus the slowly acting antiarthritic drugs will be identified as those displaying significant activity in the papaya latex model and insignificant activity in the carrageenan model and to be aspirin-like by their significant activity in both the above models of inflammation.

Metabolic studies on connective tissue collagens in bone and tendon of adjuvant arthritic rat

The metabolic alterations in the matrix of connective tissue collagen were investigated in bone and tendon of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis. Adjuvant arthritis was induced in rats with the immunization of Freund's adjuvant containing heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The changes in the metabolism of collagen were studied using radioactive isotopic measurements with (3H)-proline. Tissue specimens were fractionated individually into soluble and insoluble collagens. The synthesis of collagen was examined by measuring the total collagen content and the radioactivity of (3H)-hydroxyproline in soluble collagen fraction within 24 hours after the administration of tritiated proline. The conversion of soluble to insoluble collagen was analyzed by measuring the radioactivity of (3H)-hydroxyproline in both soluble and insoluble collagens. The catabolism of soluble and insoluble collagens was studied by estimating the radioactivity of urinary (3H)-hydroxyproline 24 hours after the injection of tritiated proline. It was observed that the total collagen content and the total radioactivity of (3H)-hydroxyproline in bone and tendon were decreased significantly in adjuvant arthritic rats. The specific and total radioactivities of (3H)-hydroxyproline in soluble collagen were found to be reduced, indicating the decreased de novo synthesis of collagen during the diseased state. The conversion of soluble to insoluble collagen was impaired in tissues as evidenced by the increased content of soluble collagen in arthritic disease. In addition, an enhanced excretion of hydroxyproline was found in urine of arthritic rats, indicating the increased degradation of collagen in arthritic disease. These observations could, therefore, explain in part the changes in synthesis and degradation of collagen in bone and tendon during the development of experimentally induced adjuvant arthritis in rats.

Effect of adjuvant induced arthritis on the mechanical properties and thermal behavior of skin and tendon

In rats with adjuvant induced arthritis, the mechanical properties and thermal behavior of the skin and tendon were studied during the acute and chronic phase of the disease. Among the mechanical properties, the tensile strength and elastic modulus were found to decrease markedly both in the skin and tendon of arthritic rats while the extensibility did not show any significant change during the course of the disease. The thermal behavior, namely, shrinkage temperature, denaturation temperature, isometric tension and the temperature at isometric tension were decreased appreciably both in the skin and tendon of arthritic rats, the decrease being prominent during the chronic phase of arthritis. Both the mechanical properties and thermal behavior were correlated with biochemical parameters such as total collagen content and the ratio of the total activity of 14C-hydroxyproline of soluble collagens to insoluble collagen. The results support the concept of impaired collagen crosslinking in adjuvant induced arthritis. Prednisolone and L-thyroxine were administered to arthritic rats and the changes in the mechanical properties and thermal behavior of the skin and tendon of arthritic rats were studied. Both prednisolone and L-thyroxine increased the decreased values of tensile strength and elastic modulus of the skin and tendon in adjuvant induced arthritis. Similarly the decreased values in the thermal behavior of arthritic rats were found to be increased by treatment with prednisolone and L-thyroxine. Results indicated correlations with the beneficial action of prednisolone and L-thyroxine on the impaired collagen crosslinking in adjuvant induced arthritis.

Effect of adjuvant arthritis on collagenase and certain lysosomal enzymes in relation to the catabolism of collagen

The activity of collagenase, cathepsin B1, cathepsin D and Hyaluronidase was determined in skin, bone, liver, kidney, spleen and serum of adjuvant induced arthritic rats during the acute and chronic phase of the disease. Collagenase was assayed directly in tissue extract by a solution method using radioactive labelled substrate. The activity of collagenase, cathepsin B1 and D was found to increase significantly at both phases of the disease. The activity of hyaluronidase decreased significantly in liver, kidney and spleen of arthritic rats, while in skin, bone and serum no significant change was observed. The results are discussed with respect to catabolism of collagen in adjuvant induced arthritis. Prednisolone and L-thyroxine were administered to arthritic rats and the activity of collagenase, cathepsin B1, cathepsin D and hyaluronidase was determined in the treated groups during the acute and chronic phase of the disease. Prednisolone was found to suppress the development of arthritis which, in turn, decreased the increased activity of collagenase and lysosomal enzymes cathepsin B1 and D in tissues and serum of arthritic rats. L-Thyroxine was found to slowly diminish the development of inflammation and its beneficial action was found in mesenchymal tissues and skin of arthritic rats but not in bone.

A technique for quantitating enzyme histochemistry in adjuvant arthritic joints. II. Acid phosphatase

This paper reports on the incorporation of acid phosphatase histochemistry with a quantitative technique designed to measure the percentage of histochemically-localized enzyme-reactive cells found in adjuvant arthritic articular cartilage, synovial membrane and bone marrow. With the data presented and the comparisons made, this incorporation is validated and adjuvant arthritic acid phosphatase "lesions" established. In addition to discussing the importance of the histochemical data and its relationship with intra-articular lysosomes, the applicability of the reactive cell values to drug inhibition studies is discussed.

Histochemical investigation of adjuvant-induced arthritis

Rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis were observed to have increased alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase (two isozymes), and ATPase activity in the radial zone of articular cartilage, at the osteochondral junction, and in the bone marrow elements. A qualitative and quantitative reduction azure A, PAS colloidal iron, alcian blud critical electrolyte concentration staining (0.4 and 0.9 M (mg Cl2) was also observed in corresponding areas. These findings suggest the degradation of the articular cartilage matrix with possible simultaneous or resultant calcification.