THE SYNOVIUM OF TRANSGENIC ARTHRITIC MICE EXPRESSING HUMAN TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR CONTAINS A HIGH-LEVEL OF NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR

We have recently reported that nerve growth factor (NGF) increases in the synovium of patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis and in the s ynovium of pharmacologically-induced arthritis in animal models. In th e present study, we demonstrate that arthritic transgenic mice which c arry and express the human TNF gene (Tg197) also express elevated leve ls of NGF, and that subcutaneous injection of NGF-antibodies attenuate s the loss of body weight caused by the developement of disease in the se mice. Along with our previous findings, which show an increase in t he level of NGF during the acute phase of other autoimmune diseases, t hese results suggest a role of NGF in these pathologies. The functiona l significance of NGF in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is currently under study.