Effects of alpha-linked galactooligosaccharide on adjuvant-induced arthritis in Wistar rats and type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice.
alpha-Linked galactooligosaccharide (alpha-GOS) has been reported to change the composition of enteric microflora. In the present study, the antiarthritic effect of alpha-GOS was evaluated by employing adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in Wistar rats and type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1J mice. The animals were given alpha-GOS orally. This substance had beneficial effects on both clinical signs, such as erythema and swelling of the limbs, and histopathological findings in the hind paw joints in a dose-dependent manner. alpha-GOS reduced the plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx) level in rats with AIA. In the cell culture system employing peritoneal macrophages from rats with AIA, alpha-GOS enhanced interleukin-1 production without lipopolysaccharide stimulation in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that alpha-GOS stimulates peritoneal macrophages through modulation of enteric microflora. Since alpha-GOS modulates the composition of the enteric microflora, the antiarthritic effects of alpha-GOS could be partly attributable to its immunomodulating activity. Thus, alpha-GOS is a potential functional food for the treatment of human rheumatoid arthritis.
Abe
C
C
Department of Medicine, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Fujita
K
K
Kikuchi
E
E
Hirano
S
S
Kuboki
H
H
Yamashita
A
A
Hashimoto
H
H
Mori
S
S
Okada
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005690:Galactose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D005690:Galactose