IntroductionRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive, inflammatory and destructive autoimmune disease, characterised by synovial joint inflammation and bone erosion. To better understand the pathophysiology and underlying immune mechanisms of RA various models of arthritis have been developed in different inbred strains of mice. Establishment of arthritis models with components of adaptive immunity in the C57BL/6J strain of mice has been difficult, and since most genetically modified mice are commonly bred on this background, there is a need to explore new ways of obtaining robust models of arthritis in this strain. This study was undertaken to establish and characterise a novel murine model of arthritis, the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH)-arthritis model, and evaluate whether disease can be treated with compounds currently used in the treatment of RA.MethodsDTH-arthritis was induced by eliciting a classical DTH reaction in one paw with methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA), with the modification that a cocktail of type II collagen monoclonal antibodies was administered between the immunisation and challenge steps. Involved cell subsets and inflammatory mediators were analysed, and tissue sections evaluated histopathologically. Disease was treated prophylactically and therapeutically with compounds used in the treatment of RA.ResultsWe demonstrate that DTH-arthritis could be induced in C57BL/6 mice with paw swelling lasting for at least 28 days and that disease induction was dependent on CD4+ cells. We show that macrophages and neutrophils were heavily involved in the observed pathology and that a clear profile of inflammatory mediators associated with these cell subsets was induced locally. In addition, inflammatory markers were observed systemically. Furthermore, we demonstrate that disease could be both prevented and treated.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that DTH-arthritis shares features with both collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and human RA. DTH-arthritis is dependent on CD4+ cells for induction and can be successfully treated with TNFα-blocking biologics and dexamethasone. On the basis of our findings we believe that the DTH-arthritis model could hold potential in the preclinical screening of novel drugs targeting RA. The model is highly reproducible and has a high incidence rate with synchronised onset and progression, which strengthens its potential.

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We demonstrate that IL-33, GLP-1R, and CCL20 are deregulated in human IBD, and that prophylactic treatment with 0.6 mg/kg liraglutide improves disease in AdTr colitis. In addition, GLP-1 receptor agonists upregulate IL-33, mucin 5b, and CCL20 in murine Brunner's glands. Taken together, our data indicate that GLP-1 receptor agonists affect gut homeostasis in both proximal and distal parts of the gut.

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease, characterized by epidermal hyperplasia, immune cell infiltration, increased dermal angiogenesis and local up-regulation of a variety of inflammatory mediators. Psoriasis is thought to be driven primarily by CD4(+) T cells with a T(h)1 and/or T(h)17 phenotype. Transgenic keratin 14 (K14)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mice have previously been reported to develop a psoriasis-like phenotype. The aim of this study was to further characterize the model for validation as an in vivo screening model of psoriasis. Inflammation was induced in the ear skin with five topical applications of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and a significantly increased inflammation was found in TPA-induced K14/VEGF transgenic animals compared with wild-type mice. The amount of VEGF in the ear tissue was significantly elevated resulting in increased dermal angiogenesis. Furthermore, intense epidermal hyperplasia, CD3(+) infiltration and significantly increased amounts of (TNF) tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-12/23p40, IL-12p70, IL-22 and IL-17 were detected in the inflamed ear skin. This cytokine profile strongly suggests a T(h)17-mediated inflammation. All findings were a result of induced over-expression of VEGF. Topical treatment with betamethasone-17-valerate (BMS) significantly reduced ear skin inflammation and epidermal hyperplasia and also decreased the CD3(+) infiltration. In conclusion, the TPA-induced phenotype in K14/VEGF animals displayed several features of psoriasis, including a T(h)17 cytokine profile and a chronic-like progression, and can be used as an in vivo screening model of psoriasis.

+ T cells alone were sufficient for expansion and required for disease development; in contrast, CD4 + T cells alone expanded but did not induce acute disease and, rather, exerted regulatory capacity through CD25 + CD4 + T cells. Using various anti-inflammatory compounds, we demonstrated that several T cell-activation pathways controlled T cell expansion and disease development, including calcineurin-, tumour necrosis factor-a and co-stimulatory signalling via the CD80/CD86 pathway, indicating the diverse modes of action used by human T cells during expansion and activation in mice as well as the pharmacological relevance of this model. Overall, these data provide insight into the mechanisms used by human T cells during expansion and activation in mice, and we speculate that PBMC-injected mice may be useful to study intrinsic human T cell functions in vivo and to test T cell-targeting compounds.

The reported in vivo bioinstability of sensors is likely to be caused by protein and cellular biofouling on the sensor membrane. Furthermore, the consistent finding of fibrinogen and fibrinogen fragments D and E at the sensor-tissue interface seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis as it possibly maintains the inflammation by promoting the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the implantation site.

The study demonstrates that intestinal IL-33 is capable of inducing GATA-3 in mucosal T cells, and suggests that IL-33 is a key mediator of pathological TH2 and non-TH2-type responses in intestinal inflammation. Blocking IL-33 signaling could be a feasible option in the treatment of UC.

Despite the attractiveness of ion channels as therapeutic targets, there are no examples of monoclonal antibodies directed against ion channels in clinical development. Antibody-mediated inhibition of ion channels could offer a directed, specific therapeutic approach. To investigate the potential of inhibiting ion channel function with an antibody, we focused on Orai1, the pore subunit of the calcium channel responsible for store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in T cells. Effector T cells are key drivers of autoimmune disease pathogenesis and calcium signaling is essential for T cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine production. We show here the generation of a specific anti-human Orai1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) against an extracellular loop of the plasma membrane-spanning protein. The anti-Orai1 mAb binds native Orai1 on lymphocytes and leads to cellular internalization of the channel. As a result, T cell proliferation, and cytokine production is inhibited in vitro. In vivo, anti-Orai1 mAb is efficacious in a human T cell-mediated graft-versus host disease (GvHD) mouse model. This study demonstrates the feasibility of antibody-mediated inhibition of Orai1 function and, more broadly, reveals the possibility of targeting ion channels with biologics for the treatment of autoimmunity and other diseases.