EFFECT OF A NOVEL ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUG, TA-383, ON TYPE-II COLLAGEN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS

The effects of TA-383 (0.016, 0.08, 0.4, 2 and 10 mg/kg) and anti-rheu matic drugs (lobenzarit 10 and 50 mg/kg, dexamethasone 0.25 mg/kg) wer e evaluated on type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/lJ mice. The arthritis score was markedly suppressed in the groups treated with dex amethasone and TA-383. Serum anti-type II collagen IgG was significant ly suppressed in the groups treated with dexamethasone and 0.4 mg/kg T A-383. Histopathological evaluation of the knee joints revealed suppre ssion of the inflammatory changes in the groups treated with dexametha sone and TA-383. These findings suggest that the histopathological exa mination of the joints of the animal model is useful for the evaluatio n of anti-rheumatic drugs, and that TA-383 has suppressive effects on type II collagen-induced arthritis, an animal model for human rheumato id arthritis.