title: Immuno-Modulatory Effect and Therapeutic Potential of Brugia malayi Cystatin in Experimentally Induced Arthritis.
abstract: Helminths are known to modulate host's immune system and understanding this modulation can help in identification of novel therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases. In this study, we have assessed the immune-modulatory activity and the therapeutic effect of Brugia malayi recombinant cystatin (rBmCys) in methylated BSA (mBSA) induced arthritis using rodent model. Administration of rBmCys has suppressed the severity of mBSA-arthritis in mastomys by reducing paw swelling and other clinical disease parameters as evident from significantly decreased arthritic index. The anti-arthritic effect of rBmCys was also confirmed by decreased histopathological score for synovitis, bone erosion and fibrosis in the tissue sections of paws. Further, this therapeutic effect of cystatin was found to be associated with significantly decreased production of IFN-γ and TNF-α and increased release of IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines. These results implied that rBmCys treatment has alleviated mBSA-induced arthritis and thus can be a promising alternative agent for the treatment of arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & JB Tropical Disease Research Center, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Maharashtra 442 102 India.
authors.forename: Ravi Shankar Prasad
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & JB Tropical Disease Research Center, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Maharashtra 442 102 India.
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Khatri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & JB Tropical Disease Research Center, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Maharashtra 442 102 India.
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amdare
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & JB Tropical Disease Research Center, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Maharashtra 442 102 India.
authors.forename: Kalyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goswami
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Maharashtra 442 102 India.
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Shivkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Maharashtra 442 102 India.
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gangane
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & JB Tropical Disease Research Center, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Maharashtra 442 102 India.
authors.forename: Maryada Venkata Rami
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Reddy
keywords: Brugia malayi cystatin; Methylated BSA; Rheumatoid arthritis; Therapeutic effect