Streptococcal cell wall-induced arthritis: requirements for IL-4, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 160; no. 3; pp. 1466 - 1471
• Main Authors: Schimmer, R C, Schrier, D J, Flory, C M, Laemont, K D, Tung, D, Metz, A L, Friedl, H P, Conroy, M C, Warren, J S, Beck, B, Ward, P A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.1998
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Blocking - administration & dosage; Arthritis - etiology; Arthritis - immunology; Arthritis - pathology; Cell Movement - immunology; Chemokine CCL2 - analysis; Chemokine CCL2 - genetics; Chemokine CCL2 - immunology; Chemokine CCL2 - physiology; Female; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Injections, Intra-Articular; Injections, Intravenous; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Interferon-gamma - physiology; Interleukin-10 - immunology; Interleukin-10 - physiology; Interleukin-4 - immunology; Interleukin-4 - physiology; Peptidoglycan - administration & dosage; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - immunology; Streptococcus - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - pathology
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.160.3.1466

Intra-articular injection of streptococcal cell wall Ag followed by i.v. challenge ("reactivation") results in a destructive lymphocyte-dependent monoarticular arthritis. To further define the role of immune mechanisms in the model, Abs to Th1 and Th2-related cytokines were evaluated. Treatment of rats with antibodies to IL-4 reduced swelling, while treatment with anti-IL-10 or anti-IFN-gamma either had no effect or slightly enhanced the inflammatory response. These results suggest that Th-2 immune mechanisms may be, at least in part, operative in the model. To more precisely define the role of IL-4, the effects of anti-IL-4 on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression were evaluated. Initial studies demonstrated that mRNA (as determined by in situ hybridization) and protein (as determined by immunofluorescence) for MCP-1 were detectable in inflamed synovial tissue in a time-dependent manner. Anti-IL-4 treatment significantly reduced the expression of mRNA for MCP-1 24 and 72 h after reactivation. In addition, anti-MCP-1 inhibited swelling and reduced influx of (111)In-labeled T cells. These data suggest that the reactivation model of streptococcal cell wall Ag-induced arthritis is Th-2 dependent, and that an inter-relationship exists between IL-4 and the expression of MCP-1.