Nimesulide improves the symptomatic and disease modifying effects of leflunomide in collagen induced arthritis.
Nimesulide is a COX-2 inhibitor used for symptomatic relief of rheumatoid arthritis. Leflunomide is an anti-pyrimidine used to manage the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Herein we studied the influence of nimesulide and leflunomide combination in terms of disease symptoms and progression using collagen-induced arthritis model in mice, as a model for rheumatoid arthritis. Collagen induced arthritis was induced by immunization with type II collagen. Assessment of joint stiffness and articular hyperalgesia were evaluated using a locomotor activity cage and the Hargreaves method, respectively. Disease progression was assessed via arthritic index scoring, X-ray imaging, myeloperoxidase enzyme activity and histopathologic examination. Nimesulide induced only transient symptomatic alleviation on the top of decreased leucocytic infiltration compared to arthritis group. However, nimesulide alone failed to induce any significant improvement in the radiological or pathological disease progression. Leflunomide alone moderately alleviates the symptoms of arthritis and moderately retarded the radiological and pathological disease progression. Combination of nimesulide and leflunomide significantly improved symptomatic (analgesia and joint stiffness) and arthritic disease progression (radiological, pathological and Myeloperoxidase enzyme activity) in collagen induced arthritis animal model.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed M
AM
Al-Abd
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Fahad A
FA
Al-Abbasi
Department of Pharmacology, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
Salwa M
SM
Nofal
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Amani E
AE
Khalifa
Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Richard O
RO
Williams
Department of Pharmacology, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
Wafaa I
WI
El-Eraky
Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt.
Ayman A
AA
Nagy
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Ashraf B
AB
Abdel-Naim
D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077339:Leflunomide; C012655:nimesulide