title: Paclitaxel suppresses collagen-induced arthritis: a reevaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To reevaluate the suppressive effect of paclitaxel (PTX) liposome on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats and explore its mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Lewis rats were immunized with bovine type II collagen (CII) to induce arthritis. The rats with CIA were randomly divided into three groups: 5% GS control group, 2.5 mg/kg PTX treatment group and 1 mg/kg methotrexate (MTX) positive control group. The drugs were administered by intraperitoneal injection on the second day after arthritis onset. The body weights, arthritis scores and paw volumes were observed consecutively. The ankle joints of rats were collected for X-ray examination and histological evaluation. Serum samples were collected to test the levels of anti-CII antibodies and cytokines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weights were not significantly affected after PTX or MTX treatments (p>0.05). Compared with 5% GS control or MTX treatment groups, PTX group showed significant decrease of arthritis scores and paw volumes (p<0.05). Radiographic and histologic evaluation provided evidence that rats with PTX treatment had less synovial proliferation and bone erosion. In addition, the levels of anti-CII antibodies as well as serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were remarkably lower in PTX group than those in 5% GS controls (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTX inhibits the progression of CIA in rats and prevents the destruction of joints. The mechanism might be related to its inhibition on the levels of serum anti-CII antibodies, TNF-α and VEGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Fang
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Zhan-Guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Paclitaxel; collagen-induced arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; therapy