Intraarticular injection of Propionibacterium acnes causes an erosive arthritis in rats.
Formalin killed Propionibacterium acnes, was injected intraarticularly into the stifle joint of rats. The reaction was assessed by radiologic and histologic examination. A single injection induced a marginally erosive synovitis that receded by day 30. A second injection administered in the same joint resulted in tissue destruction that was evident radiographically. Treatment by dexamethasone and some disease modifying drugs, i.e. chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, sodium aurothiomalate and cyclophosphamide, significantly inhibited cartilage and bone erosion while nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents had no effect.
Institute of Biological Sciences, Syntex Research, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
B S
BS
Trimble
C J
CJ
Evers
S A
SA
Ballaron
J M
JM
Young
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial