Experimental autoimmune arthritis in mice. II. Early events in the elicitation of the autoimmune phenomenon induced by homologous type II collagen.

摘要: Abstract Intradermal injection of 100 μg native homologous type II collagen (CII) into DBA 1 -susceptible mice induced a progressive and chronic polyarthritis. This experimental autoimmune arthritis (EAA) closely mimicked the clinical evolution human rheumatoid (RA) except for sex linkage. Males were highly susceptible to EAA induction even when amount autoantigen injected was reduced 25 μg. Conversely, females remained resistant disease booster 50 administered. With regard age, no major difference in incidence observed, although younger males developed more severe than older ones. Anti-CII autoantibodies detected all immunized animals, regardless presence or absence joint pathology. However, arthritic mice, onset associated with predominance IgG2a autoantibodies. Kinetic studies revealed that as well exhibited early histological lesions detectable humoral responses toward mouse CII second week postimmunization. Moreover, specific cellular autoreactivity occurred different lymphoid organs higher intensity males. Taken together, these findings suggest induces an subclinical develops progressively but would be down-regulated several weeks after priming, exclusively females.