Gold and D-penicillamine induce vasculitis and up-regulate mRNA for IL-4 in the Brown Norway rat: support for a role for Th2 cell activity

Clinical and Experimental Immunology
F QasimK M Gillespie

Abstract

D-penicillamine (DP) and gold salts which are used as immune-modulating agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are known to be capable of causing autoimmune manifestations. Most autoimmune diseases in man are dominated by Th1-type responses, and one might presume that effective immunotherapy counteracts Th activity, perhaps by causing a shift to a Th2 response. The mechanism of action of gold and DP is not clear, but some clues may be obtained from their effects in animal models. DP, gold salts and mercuric chloride (HgCl2) are known to induce Th2-dominated autoimmune syndromes in genetically susceptible rodent strains, and we have demonstrated recently that HgCl2 up-regulates messenger RNA (mRNA) for IL-4 in the Brown Norway (BN) rat. In the BN rat HgCl2 treatment is also associated with the development of vasculitis, and anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibodies are found in the serum. The present study examined and confirmed the hypothesis that, since gold and DP induce an autoimmune syndrome similar to HgCl2 in the BN rat, they may also induce vasculitis and an up-regulation in mRNA for IL-4. Tissue injury was assessed macroscopically and histologically on day 5 and day 15 after the start of injections with gold, DP or...Continue Reading

Citations

Jul 15, 1999·Clinical and Experimental Immunology·I KrauseY Shoenfeld
Feb 7, 2001·The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists·R GerliC Lunardi
Feb 16, 2002·Neurosurgery·E S NussbaumD L Erickson
Sep 30, 1999·Environmental Health Perspectives·P E Bigazzi

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