Huang B, Wang QT, Song SS, Wu YJ, Ma YK, Zhang LL, Chen JY, Wu HX, Jiang L, Wei W. Combined use of etanercept and MTX restores CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio and Tregs in spleen and thymus in collagen-induced arthritis.
Inflamm Res 2012;
61:1229-39. [PMID:
22802109 DOI:
10.1007/s00011-012-0520-0]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2012] [Revised: 06/17/2012] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To further explore the mechanism of etanercept (ENT, rhTNFR:Fc) and methotrexate (MTX) in the combined treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we investigated whether thymic and splenic T-cell subsets and their related cytokines imbalance could be restored by ETN/MTX treatment.
METHODS
The effect of ETN/MTX on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was evaluated by arthritis scores, joint and spleen histopathology, as well as indices of thymus and spleen. T lymphocytes proliferation was determined by [(3)H]-TdR incorporation. Levels of TNF-α, LT-α, IL-1β, RANKL, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ and IL-6 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The subsets of T lymphocytes including CD4(+), CD8(+), CD3(+)CD4(+), CD4(+)CD25(+), CD4(+)CD62L(+) and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) cells were quantified using flow cytometry.
RESULTS
Combined administration of ETN/MTX significantly inhibited the proliferation of T lymphocytes, decreased serum IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, RANKL and macrophage supernatant IL-17, LT-α, increased serum IFN-γ and macrophage supernatant IL-10. Moreover, the combined administration could restore CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and Treg cells of CIA thymus and spleen.
CONCLUSION
Taken together, our findings suggest that ENT/MTX may modify the abnormal T lymphocytes balance from central to peripheral lymphoid organs, which may partially, explained the mechanism of the combined administration.
Collapse