PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON T-614, A NOVEL ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENT - EFFECT ON TYPE-II COLLAGEN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS IN DBA 1J MICE AND SPONTANEOUS ARTHRITIS IN MRL/I MICE/

T-614 thylsulfonylamino-6-phenoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one) is a novel an tiinflammatory compound with the property of inhibiting cytokine produ ction. The antirheumatic effect of T-614 was evaluated using both DBA/ 1J and MRL/Mp-Ipr/Ipr (MRL/I) mice as experimental animal models for r heumatoid arthritis. T-614 significantly reduced the incidence and sev erity of paw swelling in type II collagen arthritis induced in DBA/1J mice and suppressed the development of spontaneous arthritis in MRL/I mice. It also improved serological and/or immunological abnormalities, such as lymphoid hyperplasia, increase in serum amyloid P component, serum anti-type II collagen antibody levels (in DBA/1J) and IgG-type r heumatoid factor levels (in MRL/I). Histopathological examination show ed that T-614 significantly reduced the cartilage and bone damage in b oth models. These results suggest that T-614 has an antiarthritic effe ct similar to steroids and may be a valuable therapeutic drug for chro nic inflammatory disease.