The Journal of Experimental Medicine
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© The Rockefeller University Press, 0022-1007/2000/1/313/ $5.00
The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Volume 191, Number 2, January 17, 2000 313-320

Original Article

Development of Chronic Inflammatory Arthropathy Resembling Rheumatoid Arthritis in Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist–deficient Mice

Reiko Horaia, Shinobu Saijoa, Hidetoshi Taniokab, Susumu Nakaea, Katsuko Sudoa, Akihiko Okaharab, Toshimi Ikuseb, Masahide Asanoa, and Yoichiro Iwakuraa
a Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
b Developmental Research Laboratories, Santen Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Osaka 533-8651, Japan

Correspondence to: Yoichiro Iwakura, Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan. Tel:81-3-5449-5536 Fax:81-3-5449-5430 E-mail:iwakura{at}ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp.

Interleukin (IL)-1 is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays important roles in inflammation, host defense, and the neuro-immuno-endocrine network. IL-1 receptor antagonist (ra) is an endogenous inhibitor of IL-1 and is supposed to regulate IL-1 activity. However, its pathophysiological roles in a body remain largely unknown. To elucidate the roles of IL-1ra, IL-1ra–deficient mice were produced by gene targeting, and pathology was analyzed on different genetic backgrounds. We found that all of the mice on a BALB/cA background, but not those on a C57BL/6J background, spontaneously developed chronic inflammatory polyarthropathy. Histopathology showed marked synovial and periarticular inflammation, with articular erosion caused by invasion of granulation tissues closely resembling that of rheumatoid arthritis in humans. Moreover, elevated levels of antibodies against immunoglobulins, type II collagen, and double-stranded DNA were detected in these mice, suggesting development of autoimmunity. Proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor {alpha} were overexpressed in the joints, indicating regulatory roles of IL-1ra in the cytokine network. We thus show that IL-1ra gene deficiency causes autoimmunity and joint-specific inflammation and suggest that IL-1ra is important in maintaining homeostasis of the immune system. Possible involvement of IL-1ra gene deficiency in RA will be discussed.

Key Words: IL-1 receptor antagonist, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmunity, cytokine, animal model


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