title: Suppressive oligonucleotides protect against collagen-induced arthritis in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether systemic administration of oligonucleotides (ODNs), known to inhibit the production of proinflammatory cytokines, alters host susceptibility to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  CIA was induced by injecting DBA/1 mice with type II collagen (CII) in Freund's complete adjuvant, followed 3 weeks later by CII in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. The effect of suppressive ODNs on the incidence and severity of disease was monitored, as were immune correlates of CIA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suppressive ODNs administered during the inductive phase of CIA significantly reduced the incidence and severity of arthritis. Treatment with suppressive ODNs significantly decreased serum titers of pathogenic IgG anti-CII autoantibodies and interferon-gamma production by collagen-reactive T cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suppressive ODNs may be of therapeutic value in the treatment of RA, and potentially other autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: CBER/FDA, US Food and Drug Administration, Building 29A, Room 3D10, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Shu-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Ken J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Dennis M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Klinman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000939:Epitopes; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D024043:Collagen Type II; D000939:Epitopes; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant