EFFECTS OF CYTOGENIN ON SPONTANEOUS ARTHRITIS IN MRL 1 MICE AND ON PRISTANE-INDUCED ARTHRITIS (PIA) IN DBA/1J MICE/

Cytogenin, 8-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyi-6-methoxyisocoumarin, has low cyt otoxicity on murine and human tumour cells in vitro. It augments or su ppresses phagocytosis of macrophages and lymphocyte proliferation. It has been reported that cytogenin has a potent inhibitory effect clinic ally on adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats and on type II collagen-induc ed arthritis in DBA/1J mice. Our experimental findings provide evidenc e that cytogenin has beneficial effects on spontaneous polyarthritis i n MRL/1 mice and pristane-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice. The result s suggest that the mode of the anti-arthritic action of cytogenin is d ifferent from those of NSAIDs; although the precise mode of action rem ains unclear, cytogenin may become an excellent therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis.