Germinal center reaction in the joints of mice with collagen‐induced arthritis: An animal model of lymphocyte activation and differentiation in arthritic joints

• Published in: Arthritis and rheumatism Vol. 44; no. 6; pp. 1438 - 1443
• Main Authors: Han, Shuhua, Cao, Shutong, Bheekha‐Escura, Roy, Zheng, Biao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2001; Wiley
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Inflammatory joint diseases; Medical sciences; Immunohistochemistry; Immunopathology; Flow cytometry; Animal model; Immune response; Pathogenesis; Rodentia; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Autoimmune disease; Inflammatory joint disease; Activation; Arthritis; Cellular immunity; Cell differentiation; Experimental study; Pathology; Vertebrata; Chronic; Mammalia; Mouse; Collagen; Rheumatoid arthritis; Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0004-3591; 1529-0131
• DOI: 10.1002/1529-0131(200106)44:6<1438::AID-ART239>3.0.CO;2-Q

Objective To establish an animal model and provide a basis for investigating the role of germinal center (GC) reaction in autoimmune arthritis. Methods DBA/1 mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen (CII) to elicit collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA). Sections of arthritic joints were examined by in situ immunohistochemical studies, and purified cells from affected joints were subjected to flow cytometry analysis. Results De novo GC reaction was induced in the arthritic joints of male DBA/1 mice by immunization with bovine CII. In comparison with GCs formed in lymphoid tissues, such as spleen and lymph nodes, we found that these GCs formed in the joint tissues of mice with CIA were morphologically typical, as determined by immunohistologic and flow cytometric assays. Conclusion The local immune responses in murine CIA induced ectopic GC formation, as observed in the synovial tissues of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This system will allow for the first time the direct study of the role of the GC reaction in autoimmune arthritis in an animal model.