Elevation of Bombina variegata peptide 8 in mice with collagen-induced arthritis.
BACKGROUND
Bombina variegate peptide 8 (Bv8) is a small protein secreted by frog skin. Recently it has been shown to contribute to tumor angiogenesis in mouse model. The purpose of this study was to investigate Bv8 in mice with type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).


METHODS
We induced CIA in male DBA/1J mice. The severity of arthritis was evaluated based on an arthritis score. RNA was extracted from the joint, and examined for Bv8 mRNA expression by RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. Synovial tissue and bone marrow were immunohistochemically examined using anti-Bv8 antibody.


RESULTS
The level of Bv8 mRNA expression in the joint was below the detection limit in the control group, but was elevated in the CIA group, and was correlated with the arthritis score. In addition, an increase in Bv8-positive cells was observed in the synovium and bone marrow in the CIA group.


CONCLUSIONS
Bv8 was elevated in the synovium and bone marrow of CIA mice, suggesting that Bv8 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of arthritis.
Kurosaka
Daitaro
D
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. d_kurosaka@jikei.ac.jp
Noda
Kentaro
K
Yoshida
Ken
K
Furuya
Kazuhiro
K
Ukichi
Taro
T
Takahashi
Eigo
E
Yanagimachi
Maimi
M
Kingetsu
Isamu
I
Saito
Saburo
S
Yamada
Akio
A
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D007596:Joints / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; C486586:Prok2 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003094:Collagen