Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Rheumatoid Arthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta inhibition attenuates the degree of arthritis caused by type II collagen in the mouse.

Cuzzocrea S, Mazzon E, Di Paola R, Muià C, Crisafulli C, Dugo L, Collin M, Britti D, Caputi AP, Thiemermann C

Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Torre Biologica-Policlinico Universitario, Via C. Valeria-Gazzi-98100 Messina, Italy. salvator@unime.it

Recently, glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) has being identified as an ubiquitous serine-threonine protein kinase that participates in a multitude of cellular processes and plays an important role in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GSK-3beta inhibition on the degree of arthritis caused by type II collagen (CII) in the mouse (collagen-induced arthritis; CIA). Mice developed erosive hind paw arthritis when immunized with CII in an emulsion in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The incidence of CIA was 100% by day 28 in the CII-challenged mice and the severity of CIA progressed over a 35-day period with radiographic evaluation revealing focal resorption of bone. The histopathology of CIA included erosion of the cartilage at the joint margins. Treatment of mice with the GSK-3beta inhibitor TDZD-8 (1 mg/kg/day i.p.) starting at the onset of arthritis (day 25) ameliorated the clinical signs at days 26-35 and improved histological status in the joint and paw. Immunohistochemical analysis for nitrotyrosine, poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) revealed a positive staining in inflamed joints from mice subjected to CIA. The degree of staining for nitrotyrosine, PAR, iNOS, and COX-2 was significantly reduced in CII-challenged mice treated with the GSK-3beta inhibitor. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and the joint tissue levels of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha and MIP-2 were also significantly reduced by GSK-3beta inhibition. These data demonstrate that GSK-3beta inhibition exerts an anti-inflammatory effect during chronic inflammation and is able to ameliorate the tissue damage associated with CIA.

Published 20 June 2006 in Clin Immunol, 120(1): 57-67.
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