The immune response of guinea-pigs to type II collagen: poor cross-reactivity with homologous type II collagen accounts for resistance to collagen-induced arthritis.
In order to determine the susceptibility of guinea-pigs to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), Hartley and Strain 13 guinea-pigs were immunized with heterologous or homologous type II collagen. None of the animals developed CIA. Because immunity to type II collagen plays a critical role in CIA, we characterized the guinea-pig's immune response to determine the basis for this resistance. Guinea-pigs develop cellular and humoral reactivity to heterologous type II collagen similar to that of CIA-susceptible rats. The reactions distinguish type I from type II collagen but not among several heterologous type II collagens. The cell-mediated immune (CMI) response was specific for determinants on the primary amino acid structure of collagen, whether native or denatured collagen was used for immunization; however, the humoral response was specific for the form of the molecule used for immunization. Guinea-pigs differ from CIA-susceptible rats in that immunization with homologous or heterologous type II collagen fails to induce significant cross-reactive immunity with the homologous antigen. A transient arthritis could be induced in animals immunized with heterologous type II collagen by injecting them intra-articularly with heterologous but not with homologous type II collagen. Our results show that the disparity between immunity to type II collagen and the susceptibility to develop CIA in guinea-pigs is due to their poor cross-reactive immune response to autologous type II collagen.
Hernandez
A D
AD
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Memphis 38104.
Cremer
M A
MA
Townes
A S
AS
Stuart
J M
JM
Kang
A H
AH
D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000276:immunology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D003094:Collagen