Abstract
The Arthus reaction is an immunologically induced inflammatory response characterized by immune complex deposition, complement fixation, polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration and tissue damage. Many of these same pathological tissue alterations are found in the lesions of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The similarities between the reversed passive Arthus reaction (RPAR) and RA led us to investigate the usefulness of the RPAR in the search for new antirheumatic agents. The RPAR was elicited in the skin of rats using chicken ovalbumin and the IgG fraction of rabbit anti-ovalbumin. Paramethasone, hydrocortisone, indomethacin, pirprofen, sulfinpyrazone, thalidomide and theophylline all gave significant inhibition of the RPAR. Ibuprofen, naproxen, cyproheptadine and cromolyn sodium were inactive, while phenylbutazone and ASA exhibited a dose-dependent effect. The data show that the Arthus reaction, which is the result of the complex interaction of many factors, can be affected either generally or selectively at different time intervals by various therapeutic agents. The RPAR in rats may prove useful in detecting new therapeutic agents for the treatment of RA.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
N.J. Zvaifler,The Immunopathology of Joint Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Adv. Immunol.16, 265–336 (1975).
T. Uriuhara andH.Z. Movat,Allergic Inflammation IV. The Vascular Changes During the Development and Progression of the Direct Active and Passive Arthus Reactions, Lab. Invest.13, 1057–1079 (1964).
T. Uriuhara andH.Z. Movat,The Role of PMN-Leukocyte Lysosomes in Tissue Injury, Inflammation and Hypersensitivity. I. The Vascular Changes and the Role of the PMN Leukocytes in the Reversed Passive Arthus Reaction, Exp. Molec. Path.5, 539–558.
P.A. Ward andC.G. Cochrane,Bound Complement and Immunological Injury of Blood Vessels, J. Exp. Med.121, 215–233 (1965).
P.A. Ward andJ.H. Hill,Complement-Derived Leukotactic Activity Extractable from Lesions of Immunologic Vasculitis, J. Immunol.108, 1137–1145 (1972).
J.H. Humphrey,The Mechanism of Arthus Reactions. I. The Role of PMN Leukocytes and Other Factors in Reversed Passive Arthus Reactions in Rabbits, Brit. J. Exp. Path.36, 268–282 (1955).
J.H. Humphrey,The Mechanism of Arthus Reactions. II. The Role of PMN Leukocytes and Platelets in Reversed Passive Arthus Reactions in the Guinea Pig, Brit. J. Exp. Path.36, 283–289 (1955).
C.G. Cochrane,Mediators of the Arthus and Related Reactions, Prog. Allergy11, 1–35 (1967).
M.B. Goldlust andW.F. Schreiber,Use of the Reversed Passive Arthus Reaction as a Test for Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Agents and Actions5, 39–47 (1975).
S. Yamamoto, C.J. Dunn, D.A. Deporter, F. Caspasso, D.A. Willoughby andE.C. Huskisson,A Model for the Quantitative Study of Arthus (Immunologic) Hypersensitivity in Rats, Agents and Actions5, 374–377 (1975).
A. Blackham, H. Radzwonik andI.H. Shaw,The Arthus Reaction in Guinea-Pig Knee Joints. A Test for Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Agents and Actions5, 519–527 (1975).
M. Arthus,Injections Repetees de Serum de Cheval Chezle Lapin, Compt. rend. Soc. de Biol.55, 817 (1903).
L.J. Ignarro,Dissimilar Effects of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Stability of Lysosomes from Peritoneal and Circulating Leukocytes and Liver, Biochem. Pharm.20, 2861–2870 (1971).
D.G. Wright andS.E. Malawista,Mobilization and Extracellular Release of Granular Enzymes From Humans Leukocytes During Phagocytosis: Inhibition by Colchicine and Cortisol but not by Salicylate, Arthritis Rheum.16, 749–758 (1973).
H. Gewurz, P.R. Wernick, P.G. Quie andR.A. Good,Effects of Hydrocortisone Succinate on the Complement System, Nature208, 755–757 (1965).
V.J. Stecher andG.L. Chinea,The Neutrophil Adherence Assay as a method for Detecting Unique Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Agents and Actions8, 258–262 (1978).
L.J. Ignarro,Lysosome Membrane Stabilization In Vivo: Effects of Steroidal and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on the Integrity of Rat Liver Lysosomes, J. Pharm. Exp. Ther.182, 179–188 (1972).
M. Stancikova, K. Trannsky andH. Kerlova,The Effect of Anti-Rheumatic Drugs on Collgenolytic Activity of Cathepsin B1, Biochem. Pharm.26, 2121–2124 (1977).
P. Peters, C. Cooper, K. Maiorana andM.L. Graeme,The Effect of Topically Applied Agents on Ultraviolet Erythema in Guinea Pigs, Agents and Actions7, 545–553 (1977).
H. Megel, A. Raychaudhuri, S. Goldstein, C.R. Kensolving, I. Shemano andJ.G. Michael,Tilorone: Its Selective Effects on Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.145, 513–518 (1974).
H. Megel, A. Raychaudhuri, I. Shemano, T.H. Beaver andL.L. Thomas,The Anti-Inflammatory Actions of Tilorone Hydrochloride, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.149, 89–93 (1975).
E.C. Ku andJ.M. Wasvary,Inhibition of Prostaglandin Synthetase by Pirprofen. Studies with Sheep Seminal Vesicle Enzyme, Biochim. Biophys. Acta384, 360–368 (1975).
L.J. Ignarro andC. Colombo,Enzyme Release from Guinea Pig Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Lysosomes Inhibited In Vitro by Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Nature New Biol.239, 155–157 (1972).
K. Butler andG.P. Lewis,The Effect of Anti-Inflammatory Compounds on the Biochemical Changes in the Arthus Reaction, J. Path.119, 175–182 (1976).
G.P. Lewis andJ. Westwick,The Effect of Sulphinpyrazone, Sodium Aspirin, and Oxprenolol on the Formation of Arterial Platelet Thrombi, Brit. J. Pharm.55, 255P-256P (1975).
K.D. Butler andA.M. White,The Effect of Sulphinpyrazone on the Thrombocytopenia Occurring on the Arthus Reaction, Brit. J. Pharm.55, 256P-257P (1975).
R.C. Hastings, M.J. Morales andE.J. Shannon,Studies on the Mechanism of Action of Thalidomide in Leprosy, Pharmacologist18, 218 (1976).
L.J. Ignarro,Regulation of Lysosomal Enzyme Secretion: Role in Inflammation, Agents and Actions4, 241–258 (1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pflum, L.R., Graeme, M.L. The arthus reaction in rats, a possible test for anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic drugs. Agents and Actions 9, 184–189 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02024732
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02024732