title: Treatment with an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody strongly ameliorates established rat adjuvant arthritis.
abstract: Some experimental arthritic diseases can be prevented by treatment with anti-CD4 MoAbs. Trials with ongoing disease have not been successful so far. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether W3/25 could reverse adjuvant arthritis (AA), when beginning treatment on day 14, i.e. when the disease was established. Moreover, one group of animals treated with the anti-CD4 MoAb received OX8 MoAb at the same time, thus depleting CD8+ cells from circulation. During treatment with W3/25, a strong amelioration of inflammatory signals were observed, as assessed by means of paw volume increase and arthritic score. However, when treatment stopped, a rebound to arthritis signals occurred. The parallel depletion of CD8+ cells did not modify these effects, thus the combined treatment W3/25 + OX8 gave the same amelioration as treatment with W3/25 alone. These findings indicate that CD4+ cells play an important role in perpetuating rat AA. Moreover, CD8+ cells do not seem to have a regulatory role int he CD4+ cells responsible for the inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pelegrí
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Morante
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castellote
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens