Skip to main content
Log in

Minocycline in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rationale and Trial Results

  • Leading Article
  • Published:
Clinical Immunotherapeutics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Interest in the use of tetracyclines, especially minocycline, in arthritis is described in relation to the historical background. The scientific basis for the use of tetracyclines in rheumatoid arthritis is discussed in the light of new insights into the pathophysiology of the disease. During the past 2 years several studies have been published on the use of minocycline in rheumatoid arthritis. The results of these studies were to a large extent similar, in that minocycline was beneficial in terms of clinical outcome measures, but had more pronounced effects on laboratory assessments. Finally, we speculate about the future role of minocycline in rheumatoid arthritis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Golub LM, Lee HM, Lehrer G, et al. Minocycline reduces gingival collagenolytic activity during diabetes. J Periodont Res 1983; 18: 516–24

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Golub LM, Ramamurthy NS, McCamara TF, et al. Tetracyclines inhibit tissue collagenase activity. J Periodont Res 1984; 19: 651–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Golub LM, Wolff M, Lee HM. Further evidence that tetracyclines inhibit collagenase activity in human crevicular fluid and from other mammalian sources. J Periodont Res 1985; 20: 12–3

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Greenwald RA, Golub LM, Lavietes B, et al. Tetracyclines inhibit human synovial collagenase in vivo and in vitro. J Rheumatol 1987; 14: 28–32

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gomes BC, Golub LM, Ramamurthy NS. Tetracyclines inhibit parathyroid hormone induced bone resorption in organ culture. Experientia 1984; 40: 1273–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Seedor JA, Perry HD, Buxton DF. Systemic tetracycline in the treatment of alkali induced corneal ulceration in the rabbit. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1985; 26: 319–24

    Google Scholar 

  7. Lauhio A, Sorga T, Lindy O, et al. The anticollagenolytic potential of lymecycline in the long-term treatment of reactive arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1992; 35: 195–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Breed veld FC, Trentham DE. Suppression of collagen and adjuvant arthritis by a tetracycline. Arthritis Rheum 1988; 31 Suppl.: R9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Greenwald RA, Moak SA, Ramamurthy NS, et al. Tetracyclin suppress matrix metalloproteinase activity in adjuvant arthritis and in combination with flurbiprofen, ameliorate bone damage. J Rheumatol 1992; 19: 927–38

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Yu Jr LP, Smith Jr GN, Brandt RD, et al. Reduction of the severity of canine osteoarthritis by prophylactic treatment with oral doxycycline. Arthritis Rheum 1992; 35: 1150–9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Humbert P, Treffel P, Chapuis JF, et al. The tetracyclines in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol 1991; 25: 691–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Martin RR, Warr GA, Couch RB, et al. Effects of tetracycline on leucotaxis. J Infect Dis 1974; 129: 110–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Forsgren A, Schmeling D, Quic PG. Effect of tetracycline on the phagocytic function of human leucocytes. J Infect Dis 1974; 130: 412–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gabler WL, Creamer HR. Suppression of human neutrophil function by tetracyclines. J Periodont Res 1991; 26: 52–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Miyachi Y, Yoshidia A, Imamura S, et al. Effect of antibiotics on the generation of reactive oxygen species. J Invest Dermatol 1986; 86: 449–53

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Thong IH, Ferrante A. Inhibition of mitogen induced human lymphocyte proliferative responses by tetracycline analogues. Clin Exp Immunol 1979; 443–6

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ingham E, Turnbull L, Kearney JN, et al. The effects of minocycline and tetracycline on the mitotic response of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. J Antimicrob Chemotherapy 1991; 27: 607–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Thon IH, Ferrante A. Effect of tetracycline treatment on immunological responses in mice. Clin Exp Immunol 1980; 39: 728–32

    Google Scholar 

  19. Bogert van den C, Kroon AM. Effects of oxytetracycline on in vivo proliferation and differentiation of erythroid and lymphoid cells in the rat. Clin Exp Immunol 1982; 50: 327–35

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Brown TM, Bush SW, Felts WR. Long-term illness: management of the chronically ill patient. In: Wohe MG, editor. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 1959; 93–125

  21. Skinner M, Cathart S, Mills JA, et al. Tetracycline in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. A double blind controlled study. Arthritis Rheum 1971; 14: 727–32

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Beard Jr NS, Armentnout SA, Weisberger AS. Inhibition of mammalian protein synthesis by antibiotics. Pharmacol Rev 1969; 21: 213–45

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. De Jonge HR. Toxicity of tetracyclines in rat-small-intestinal epithelium and liver. Biochem Pharmacol 1973; 22: 2659–77

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Riesbeck K, Bredberg A, Forsgren A. Ciproflaxin does not inhibit mitochondrial function but other antibiotics do. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1990; 34: 167–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Athlin L, Domellof L, Norberg B. The effect of an oral therapeutic single dose of doxycycline on subsequent monocyte phagocytosis in vitro. Acta Chir Scand 1986; 152: 9–13

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Bogert van den C, Melis TE, Kroon AM. Mitochondrial biogenesis during the activation of lymphocytes by mitogens: the immunosuppressive action of tetracyclines. J Leukoc Biol 1989; 46: 128–35

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lee HM, Golub LM, Gwinnett AJ, et al. Minocycline inhibits collagenase and elastase produced by rat macrophages in cell culture. J Dent Spec Issue 1985; 64: 305

    Google Scholar 

  28. Sasaki T, Ramamurthy NS, Golub LM. Tetracycline administration increases collagen synthesis in osteoblasts of streptozocin-induced diabetic rats: a quantitative audioradiographic study. Calcif Tissue Int 1992; 50: 411–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Chowdhury ANH, Moak SA, Rifkin BR, et al. Effect of tetracyclines which have metalloproteinase inhibitory capacity on basal and heparin-stimulated bone resorption by chick osteoblasts. Agents Actions 1993; 40: 124–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Golub LM, Ramamurthy NS, Kaneko H, et al. Tetracycline administration prevents diabetes-induced osteopenia in the rat: initial observations. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 1990; 68: 27–40

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Pott HG, Wittenburg A, Hulsing-Jonge G. Long-term antibiotic treatment in reactive arthritis. Lancet 1988; i: 245–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Panayi GS, Clark B. Minocycline in the treatment of patients with Reiter’s syndrome. Clin Exp Immunol 1989; 39: 728–32

    Google Scholar 

  33. Lauhio A, Leirisalo-Repo M, Lähdevirta J, et al. Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of three-month treatment with lymecycline in reactive arthritis with special reference to Chlamydia arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1991; 34: 6–14

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Fryden A, Bengtsson A, Foberg U, et al. Early antibiotic treatment of reactive arthritis associated with enteric infections: clinical and serological study. BMJ 1990; 301: 1299–302

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Breedveld FC, Dijkmans BAC, Mattie H. Minocycline treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: an open dose finding study. J Rheumatol 1990; 17: 43–6

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Langevitz P, Bank I, Zemer D, et al. Treatment of resistant rheumatoid arthritis with minocycline: an open study. J Rheumatol 1992; 19: 1502–4

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kloppenburg M, Breedveld FC, Terwiel JP, et al. Minocycline in active rheumatoid arthritis: a double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum 1994; 37: 629–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Tilley BC, Alarcon GS, Heupe SP, et al. Minocycline in rheumatoid arthritis: a 48-week double blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med 1995; 122: 81–9

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Paulus HE. Minocycline treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Intern Med 1995; 122: 147–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kloppenburg, M., Breedveld, F.C. & Dijkmans, B.A.C. Minocycline in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Clin Immunother 5, 1–4 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03259310

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03259310

Keywords

Navigation