F. Nishikaku et Y. Koga, SUPPRESSION OF MURINE COLLAGEN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS BY TREATMENT WITH A NOVEL THIAZOLE DERIVATIVE, SM-8849, Immunopharmacology, 25(1), 1993, pp. 65-74
The antiarthritic activity of a novel thiazole derivative, SM-8849, wa
s compared with that of indomethacin and D-penicillamine, in mice with
collagen-induced arthritis. SM-8849 reduced the incidence and severit
y of disease in collagen-immunized mice, as assessed by clinical obser
vation. This efficacy was also confirmed by radiographic and histologi
c studies. Indomethacin produced an apparent reduction of the clinical
score, but had only a marginal effect on bone destruction. D-penicill
amine did not produce any improvement. Unlike indomethacin and D-penic
illamine, SM-8849 reduced the serum levels of anti-type II collagen an
tibodies. Flow cytometric analysis of spleen cells from arthritic mice
revealed an increase in T cells expressing activation antigens (class
II antigens) in comparison with normal mice. Treatment with SM-8849,
but not indomethacin or D-penicillamine, prevented the increase in la-
bearing T cells. The results suggest that an effect of SM-8849 on immu
nocompetent cells may be responsible for the antiarthritic activity of
the compound, and this would distinguish its action from that of trad
itional antirheumatic drugs.