1. Citrullinated human fibrinogen triggers arthritis through an inflammatory response mediated by IL-23/IL-17 immune axis.
- Author
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Saraiva AL, Peres RS, Veras FP, Talbot J, de Lima KA, Luiz JPM, Cunha TM, Louzada-Junior P, Cunha FQ, and Alves-Filho JC
- Subjects
- Animals, Citrullination, Fibrinogen chemistry, Gene Expression Regulation drug effects, Humans, Immunoglobulin G, Inflammation metabolism, Interferon-gamma genetics, Interferon-gamma metabolism, Interleukin-23 genetics, Male, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Receptors, Interleukin-17 genetics, Receptors, Interleukin-17 metabolism, Arthritis chemically induced, Fibrinogen toxicity, Inflammation chemically induced, Interleukin-23 metabolism
- Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint destruction. Although its etiology remains unknown, citrullinated proteins have been considered as an auto-antigen able to trigger an inflammatory response in RA. Herein, we modified the classical antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) model by using citrullinated human plasma fibrinogen (hFIB) as an immunogen to investigate the mechanism of inflammation-driven joint damage by citrullinated hFIB in C57BL/6 mice. We found that hFIB-immunized mice showed high serum levels of anti-citrullinated peptides antibodies (ACPAs). Moreover, hFIB immunized mice showed increased mechanical hyperalgesia, massive leukocyte infiltration, high levels of inflammatory mediators, and progressive joint damage after the intra-articular challenge with citrullinated hFIB. Interestingly, hFIB-induced arthritis was dependent on IL-23/IL-17 immune axis-mediated inflammatory responses since leukocyte infiltration and mechanical hyperalgesia were abrogated in Il17ra
-/- and Il23a-/- mice. Thus, we have characterized a novel model of experimental arthritis suitable to investigate the contribution of ACPAs and Th17 cell-mediated immune response in the pathogenesis of RA., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2021
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