Induction of autoimmune arthritis after direct injection of bone marrow cells from arthritis-prone SKG/Jcl mice into bone cavity of normal mice

Advances in experimental models of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent articular inflammation and joint damage. RA was first described over 200 years ago; however, its etiology and pathophysiology remain insufficiently understood. The current treatment of RA is mainly empirical or based on the current understanding of etiology with limited efficacy and/or substantial side effects. Thus, the development of safer and more potent therapeutics, validated and optimized in experimental models, is urgently required. To improve the transition from bench to bedside, researchers must carefully select the appropriate experimental models as well as draw the right conclusions. Here, we summarize the establishment, pathological features, potential mechanisms, advantages, and limitations of the currently available RA models. The aim of the review is to help researchers better understand available RA models; discuss future trends in RA model development, which can help highlight new translational and human-based avenues in RA research.

Dual-Directional Immunomodulatory Effects of Corbrin Capsule on Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases

Purpose. To investigate the effects of Corbrin Capsule (CS-C-Q80), a drug derived from Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc., on autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). Methods. 44 Patients with Graves's disease (GD) and 56 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) were randomly assigned to treatment group (GD-Tx and HT-Tx) or control group (GD-Ct and HT-Ct). The control groups were given methimazole or levothyroxine only while the treatment groups were given Corbrin Capsule (2.0 g tid) besides the same conventional prescriptions as control groups. Thyroid hormones, thyroid antibodies, and T lymphocyte subsets were quantified at baseline and 24 weeks posttreatment. Results. Significant drop of serum anti-TPO-Ab levels was observed in both GD-Tx and HT-Tx groups. Before treatment, GD patients had higher helper T cells compared to cytotoxic T cells, while HT patients suffered from a nearly inverted proportion of helper T/cytotoxic T cells. There was a significant drop of the helper T/cytotoxic T cells ratio in GD-Tx to the median of the normal ranges after Corbrin treatment for 24 weeks, while that in HT-Tx was elevated. Conclusion. Corbrin Capsule could restore the balance between helper T and cytotoxic T cells in both GD and HT patients with dual-directional immunomodulatory effects. And it could significantly reduce the autoantibody levels in both GD and HT.