The in vivo effects of tumour necrosis factor blockade on the early cell mediated immune events and syndrome expression in rat adjuvant arthritis

Effect of Uncaria tomentosa extract on purinergic enzyme activities in lymphocytes of rats submitted to experimental adjuvant arthritis model

BACKGROUND

Considering that adjuvant arthritis is an experimental model of arthritis widely used for preclinical testing of numerous anti-arthritic agents, which were taken by a large number of patients worldwide, it is of great interest to investigate the therapeutic action of compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, such as Uncaria tomentosa extract. Moreover, there are no studies demonstrating the effect of U. tomentosa on the metabolism of adenine nucleotides published so far. Thus, the purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of U. tomentosa extract on E-NTPDase and E-ADA activities in lymphocytes of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) arthritis induced rats.

METHODS

To evaluate the effect of U. tomentosa extract on the activity of E-NTPDase and ADA in lymphocytes, the rats were submitted to an experimental adjuvant arthritis model. Peripheral lymphocytes were isolated and E-NTPDase and E-ADA activities were determined. Data were analyzed by a one- or two-way ANOVA. Post hoc analyses were carried out by the Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) Multiple Comparison Test.

RESULTS

E-NTPDase activity was increased in arthritic untreated. Arthritic rats which received U. tomentosa extract, presented similar results to the control group. However, results obtained for adenosine hydrolysis by E-ADA were not altered in arthritic rats. U. tomentosa extract did not alter E-NTPDase and E-ADA activity in healthy animals.

CONCLUSIONS

The present investigation supports the hypothesis that the increased E-NTPDase activity verified in arthritic rats might be an attempt to maintain basal levels of ATP and ADP in the extracellular medium, since the arthritis induction causes tissue damage and, consequently, large amounts of ATP are released into this milieu. Also, it highlights the possibility to use U. tomentosa extract as an adjuvant to treat arthritis.

A(2A) adenosine receptors are differentially modulated by pharmacological treatments in rheumatoid arthritis patients and their stimulation ameliorates adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats

A_2A adenosine receptors (ARs) play a key role in the inhibition of the inflammatory process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the modulation of A_2AARs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients after different pharmacological treatments and to investigate the effect of A_2AAR stimulation in a rat model of arthritis. We investigated A_2AAR density and functionality in RA progression by using a longitudinal study in RA patients before and after methotrexate (MTX), anti-TNFα agents or rituximab treatments. A_2AARs were analyzed by saturation binding assays in lymphocytes from RA patients throughout the 24-month study timeframe. In an adjuvant-induced arthritis model in rats we showed the efficacy of the A_2AAR agonist, CGS 21680 in comparison with standard therapies by means of paw volume assessment, radiographic and ultrasonographic imaging. Arthritic-associated pain was investigated in mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia tests. IL-10 release following A_2AAR stimulation in lymphocytes from RA patients and in serum from arthritic rats was measured. In lymphocytes obtained from RA patients, the A_2AAR up-regulation was gradually reduced in function of the treatment time and the stimulation of these receptors mediated a significant increase of IL-10 production. In the same cells, CGS 21680 did not affected cell viability and did not produced cytotoxic effects. The A_2AAR agonist CGS 21680 was highly effective, as suggested by the marked reduction of clinical signs, in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis and associated pain. This study highlighted that A_2AAR agonists represent a physiological-like therapeutic alternative for RA treatment as suggested by the anti-inflammatory role of A_2AARs in lymphocytes from RA patients. The effectiveness of A_2AAR stimulation in a rat model of arthritis supported the role of A_2AAR agonists as potential pharmacological treatment for RA.

Protective effects of indomethacin and cyclophosphamide but not of infliximab on liver metabolic changes caused by adjuvant-induced arthritis

In the study, indomethacin, cyclophosphamide, and infliximab were administered to adjuvant-induced arthritic rats to determine if they were able to prevent the abnormalities caused by arthritis on hepatic metabolism. The drugs were administered to arthritic rats, and at the clinical onset of arthritis (day 14 after adjuvant injection), the livers were perfused to evaluate gluconeogenesis, ureagenesis, oxygen uptake, L: -lactate, pyruvate, and ammonia release from L: -alanine. The effects of the drugs on body weight gain and the signs of arthritis (paw edema, appearance of secondary lesions, and weights of lymphoid tissues) were also evaluated. Cyclophosphamide could completely prevent liver metabolic changes and the inflammatory response. Indomethacin restored ureagenesis, minimized the decrease in gluconeogenesis, and exerted a partially beneficial effect on inflammatory reactions. Infliximab did not improve arthritis-induced liver metabolic alterations or inflammatory responses. These results suggest the participation of prostaglandins, but not TNF-α, on arthritis-induced liver metabolic alterations.

The effect of infliximab on hepatic cytochrome P450 and pharmacokinetics of verapamil in rats with pre-adjuvant arthritis: a drug-disease and drug-drug interaction

Inflammatory conditions result in increased concentration but reduced potency of some cardiovascular drugs. This is associated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory mediators. Infliximab reduces pro-inflammatory mediators and reverses the diminishing effect of inflammation on response in the rat. We suggested that infliximab treatment would also reverse the effects of inflammation on drug metabolism and clearance. We examined hepatic cytochrome P450 content and the pharmacokinetics of verapamil in pre-adjuvant arthritic rats treated with infliximab. Pre-adjuvant arthritis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats with a tail base injection of Mycobacterium butyricum. Animals were monitored for symptoms of arthritis, serum nitrite and C-reactive protein. On day 6, rats were administered with single s.c. doses of infliximab (10 mg/kg). On day 14, a single i.v. dose of racemic verapamil (2 mg/kg) was administered, and S- and R-verapamil concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Hepatic cytochrome P450 content and verapamil protein binding were also measured. Serum nitrite levels were significantly elevated in pre-adjuvant arthritis. Infliximab did not affect mean nitrite concentrations but there was a significant correlation between nitrite and S-verapamil concentrations as well as cytochrome P450, CYP3A, and CYP1A contents. Infliximab increased cytochrome P450 enzymes content that had been diminished by pre-adjuvant arthritis but had no significant effect on verapamil protein binding. Infliximab partially restores hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme contents. The effect of infliximab on the mean verapamil clearance was not significantly affected due, likely, to the lack of effect on plasma protein binding.

Quantitative dynamic models of arthritis progression in the rat

PURPOSE

This comparison employs mathematical disease progression models to identify a rat model of arthritis with the least inter-animal variability and features lending to better study designs.

METHODS

Arthritis was induced with either collagen (CIA) or mycobacterium (AIA) in either Lewis or Dark Agouti (DA) rats. Disease progression was monitored by paw edema and body weight. Models with production, loss, and feedback components were constructed and population analysis using NONMEM software was employed to identify inter-animal variability in the various disease progression parameters.

RESULTS

Onset time was the only parameter different within all four groups (DA-AIA 11.5 days, DA-CIA 16.5 days, Lewis-AIA 11.9 days, Lewis-CIA 13.9 days). The loss-of-edema rate constant was 20% slower in DA (0.362 h(-1)) than Lewis (0.466 h(-1)) rats. Most models exhibited peak paw edema 20 days post-induction. Edema in CIA returned to 150% of the initial value after the disease peaked. DA rats displayed more severe overall responses.

CONCLUSIONS

No statistical differences between groups were observed for inter-animal variation in disease onset, progression and severity parameters. Onset time varies and should be noted in the design of future studies. DA rats may offer a more dynamic range of edema response than Lewis rats.

Regulation of autoimmune inflammation by pro-inflammatory cytokines

The pro-inflammatory cytokines play a critical role in the initiation and propagation of autoimmune arthritis and many other disorders resulting from a dysregulated self-directed immune response. These cytokines influence the interplay among the cellular, immunological and biochemical mediators of inflammation at multiple levels. Regulation of the pro-inflammatory activity of these cytokines is generally perceived to be mediated by the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10, or TGF-beta. However, increasing evidence is accumulating in support of the regulatory attributes of the pro-inflammatory cytokines themselves, in studies conducted in animal models of diabetes, multiple sclerosis, uveitis, and lupus. The results of our recent studies have shown that the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, can suppress arthritic inflammation in rats, and also contribute to resistance against arthritis. These results are of paramount significance not only in fully understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis, but also in anticipating the full ramifications of the in vivo neutralization of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, including that for therapeutic purposes.

Exogenous tumour necrosis factor alpha induces suppression of autoimmune arthritis

Introduction

Our previous studies showed that arthritic Lewis (LEW) rats produced the highest levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α in the recovery phase of adjuvant arthritis (AA), suggesting a correlation between high TNFα levels and reduced severity of arthritis. To further explore this correlation, we compared the TNFα secretion profile of the AA-resistant Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats with that of LEW rats, determined the effect of exogenous TNFα on the course of AA in LEW rats, and examined various mechanisms involved in TNFα-induced disease modulation.

Methods

A cohort each of LEW and WKY rats was immunised subcutaneously with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra (Mtb). At different time points thereafter, subgroups of rats were killed and their draining lymph node cells were tested for cytokine production. Another group of LEW rats was injected with TNFα intraperitoneally daily for a total of 10 injections, 3 before and 6 after Mtb challenge, and then observed for signs of AA. In parallel, TNFα-treated rats were examined for changes in other cytokines, in CD4+CD25+ T cell frequency, and in indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) mRNA expression levels.

Results

LEW rats displayed a TNFα secretion profile that was opposite to that of the WKY rats. Furthermore, TNFα treatment significantly downmodulated the severity of AA in LEW rats, and decreased the interferon (IFN)-γ secretion in response to the pathogenic determinant of the disease-related antigen. No significant alterations were observed in other parameters tested.

Conclusion

The role of endogenous TNFα in the induction and propagation of arthritis is well established. However, exogenous TNFα can downmodulate the course of AA, displaying an immunoregulatory functional attribute of this cytokine.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor agent PEG-sTNFRI improves the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-I system in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats

Adjuvant-induced arthritis is associated with body weight loss and decreased pituitary growth hormone (GH) and hepatic insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) synthesis. Cytokines as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mediate wasting associated with chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to analyse whether the inhibition of TNF is able to revert the decrease in the body weight and the GH/IGF-I axis in arthritic rats. Male Wistar rats were injected with Freund's adjuvant, and 15 days later arthritic and control rats were daily injected with polyethylene glycol linked to soluble TNF receptor p55 (PEG-sTNFRI) (1 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline for 8 days. There was a significant decrease in pituitary GH mRNA (P<0.05), hepatic IGF-I mRNA (P<0.01) and serum concentrations of IGF-I (P<0.01) in arthritic rats. The 8-day administration of PEG-sTNFRI resulted in an increase in food intake (P<0.05) and body weight gain (P<0.01) in arthritic but not in control rats. There was an increase in pituitary GH mRNA after PEG-sTNFRI treatment both in control and in arthritic rats. There was a significant increase in IGF-I serum concentrations (P<0.05) and hepatic IGF-I mRNA expression (P<0.05) in control rats treated with PEG-sTNFRI, whereas the effect of this anti-TNF agent in arthritic rats was only statistically significant in hepatic IGF-I mRNA expression (P<0.05). These data suggest that TNF seems to be involved in the decrease in GH and IGF-I synthesis in arthritic rats.