title: Decomplementation by cobra venom factor suppresses Yersinia-induced arthritis in rats.
abstract: Lewis rats experimentally infected with Yersinia enterocolitica O8 develop Yersinia-induced arthritis (YIA), which resembles very much reactive arthritis in humans. To investigate the involvement of serum complement in induction and maintenance of YIA, we decomplementated Yersinia-infected Lewis rats by treatment with cobra venom factor starting on day 7 after infection (prearthritic state). Reduction of serum complement activity in vivo by cobra venom factor treatment coincided with suppression of YIA clinically and histomorphologically.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Gaede
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baumeister
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heesemann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D004546:Elapid Venoms; C016310:cobra venom factor; D003165:Complement System Proteins