title: Plasmid encoding interleukin-4 in the amelioration of murine collagen-induced arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the therapeutic effect of the administration of plasmid encoding interleukin-4 (IL-4) via gene-gun delivery and via intradermal injection on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).
  
  
  METHODS
  IL-4 plasmid was administered by gene-gun delivery and intradermal injection to DBA/1 mice immunized with type II collagen (CII). The therapeutic effect on the development of CIA was evaluated clinically with a visual scoring method for arthritis and serologically by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with IL-4-expressing plasmid significantly reduced the incidence and severity of CIA, including a reduction in the anti-CII antibody level. In particular, gene-gun delivery had a higher immunosuppressive effect on CIA compared with intradermal injection. As shown by in vitro stimulation assay, the spleen cells from mice immunized with CII and treated with IL-4 plasmid via gene gun exhibited higher Th2 cytokine responses compared with cells treated with control plasmid after in vitro stimulation with CII.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that treatment with IL-4 plasmid may constitute a new clinical use of cytokine gene therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Departmentof Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan. Tsukatonpipi@nifty.com
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kageyama
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchijima
authors.forename: Toshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Aoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taiki
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Tetsuyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagafusa
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D019470:Biolistics; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D007114:Immunization; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015847:Interleukin-4