Effects of oral administration of type II collagen on adjuvant arthritis in rats and its mechanisms
Hu, Y.; Zhao, W.; Qian, X.; Zhang, L.
Chinese Medical Journal 116(2): 284-287
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0366-6999 PMID: 12775248 Document Number: 554421
Objective To investigate the effects of oral administration of type II collagen (C II) on adjuvant arthritis (AA) in rats and its mechanisms, and to compare the effects of C II with those of the Chinese traditional medicine Tripterygium Polyglycoside administered similarly. Methods Arthritis was induced in rats by immunization using Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). After feeding rats either soluble C II or Tripterygium Polyglycoside, changes in degree of articular swelling and articular histological findings were observed in AA rats. Some correlative immunological indexes were measured, including delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, anti-collagen and anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) antibody in serum, and levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in articular steep in rats. Results Oral administration of C II was able to alleviate both distinctly articular and general symptoms in AA rats, suppress synovium hyperplasia and inflammatory cells infiltration in arthrosis capsule. The effects brought about by C II were stronger than those by Tripterygium Polyglycoside. Oral administration of C II inhibited antigen-specific immune response, such as DTH and antibody reaction to C II. In addition, the expression of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in joints were locally downregulated. Conclusions The therapeutic effect of oral administration of C II is obvious on adjuvant arthritis in rats. Its remedial mechanisms are likely related to the downregulation of both IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, and the suppression of cell immunity.