title: Cytokine and nitric oxide levels in a rat model of immunologic protection from adjuvant-induced arthritis.
abstract: In the present study we investigated the correlation between the progression of adjuvant arthritis induced by Mycobacterium butyricum and the production of nitric oxide and some pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in arthritic rats and in rats treated with low intra-peritoneal doses of Mycobacterium 3 and 10 days after arthritis induction. The intra-peritoneal administration of Mycobacterium antigen significantly inhibited disease development. Compared to healthy rats, a rise in serum and peritoneal pro-inflammatory cytokines was observed in all arthritic rats already from the 14 day. The treatment with intra-peritoneal Mycobacterium was associated with a significant reduction in IL-6 serum concentrations and a slight decrease of IFN-gamma production by peritoneal macrophages. Nitrite/nitrate plasma and peritoneal levels were significantly higher in all arthritic rats. Intra-peritoneal administration of Mycobacterium caused a further increase in nitrite/nitrate plasma concentrations, while no differences were evident in nitric oxide production by peritoneal macrophages. From our data it is evident that among the variables here investigated, IL-6 seems to be the more representative marker of the disease and of the treatment effect. A possible role of nitric oxide as a modulator rather than a direct mediator in this model of inflammation is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Medicine and Public Health, Pharmacology Section, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conforti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lussignoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ortolani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuzzolin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benoni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bellavite