EFFECT OF IL-10 ON COLLAGEN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS IN MICE

In the present study we investigated the effect of a potent anti-infla mmatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)-10, on the development of collagen- induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. Each DBA1/J mouse was immunized with 200 mu g of native collagen and followed by booster injections at 3 we eks. rmIL-10 was injected i.p. daily at a dose of 100 ng/mouse. Mice w ere divided into four groups according to the administration period of rmIL-10. As a result, a 48-day course of IL-10 treatment significantl y suppressed the severity of arthritis. Among the 4 groups, the most p ronounced suppression was observed in the group in which IL-10 was giv en from day 0 to 21. On the other hand, there were no significant diff erences in the serum IgG anti-type II collagen (CII) titers between th e four groups. Moreover, the production of cytokines (IL-6 and tumor n ecrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)) and other mediators (prostaglandin E 2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO)) by peritoneal macrophages seemed to sh ow no clear correlation with the severity of arthritis in mice. These results raise the possibility that IL-10 might be a useful agent for s uppressing the progression and the development of CIA in mice.