title: Vanadate, an inhibitor of stromelysin and collagenase expression, suppresses collagen induced arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Collagen induced arthritis (CIA) is a model of chronic inflammatory synovitis with pannus, neovascularization, and joint destruction similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are involved in degradation of the extracellular matrix and joint destruction in RA. c-fos and c-jun are protooncogenes whose products combine to form activating protein (AP-1), a regulatory protein that is required for cell proliferation and the transcription of a variety of genes, including MMP such as collagenase and stromelysin. Administration of vanadium compounds suppresses c-fos/c-jun expression and AP-1 activity, resulting in inhibition of MMP expression in response to factors such as interleukin 1 (IL-1). We evaluated whether a vanadium AP-1 inhibitor could reduce MMP expression and subsequent joint damage in CIA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vanadate [bis (maltolato) oxovanadium (IV) (BMOV; 10 mg/kg/day)] and the reducing agent N-acetyl cysteine (NAC; 100 mg/kg/day) were given subcutaneously daily in an attempt to suppress established CIA in rats. NAC in combination with vanadate appeared to increase the efficacy of c-fos/c-jun inhibition, while decreasing toxicity. Controls were given NAC alone. Clinical, radiographic, and histologic measures were evaluated as well as synovial MMP and IL-1a expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BMOV therapy, initiated on the day of onset of clinical arthritis, significantly reduced clinical arthritis within 2 days (p <0.05) compared to controls. Significance was maintained to the termination of the study on Day 18 post-arthritis onset (p < 0.005), with a maximum difference seen on Day 5 (p < 0.00001). Blinded radiographic scores at the completion of the protocols indicated less joint destruction in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.005). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the preservation of articular cartilage with therapy. In BMOV-treated rats, synovial mRNA expression of collagenase, stromelysin, and IL-la were reduced by 78%, 58%, and 85%, respectively, compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study of vanadate as a potential antirheumatic agent. Further study of this AP-1 and MMP inhibitor may lead to new treatment options in RA.
authors: Division of Rheumatology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Oliver
authors: Gary S
authors: GS
authors: Firestein
authors: Larry
authors: L
authors: Arsenault
authors: Tony F
authors: TF
authors: Cruz
authors: Tammy P
authors: TP
authors: Cheng
authors: Mona L
authors: ML
authors: Banquerigo
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: Boyle
authors: Ernest
authors: E
authors: Brahn
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011753:Pyrones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D014638:Vanadates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011753:Pyrones; C074212:bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV); D014638:Vanadates; D017364:Collagenases; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D000111:Acetylcysteine