Chronic arthritis of rabbits induced by mycoplasmas II.antibody response and the deposition of immune complexes

Abstract

Chronic mycoplasma-induced arthritis of rabbits was accompanied by a highly active humoral immune response. Peak antibody titers coincided with the "disappearance" of mycoplasmas from joint tissues at 7 weeks. High synovial fluid antibody titers and immunoglobulin-producing cells in frozen sections of synovial membrane suggested local antibody production. Persistence of granular deposits containing IgG and complement in synovium and cartilage may be a mechanism for continuing inflammation in the apparent absence of cultivable mycoplasmas.A single intraarticular injection of Mycoplasma arthritidis or Mycoplasma pulmonis readily induced a chronic arthritis in rabbits lasting for at least 1 year in many animals. The histologic, clinical, and microbiologic characteristics of this disease over a 1-year period were described in a previous communication (1). One of the most interesting observations made in this study was the apparent "disappearance" of mycoplasmas from joint tissues about 7 weeks after injection, despite the persistence of active arthritis. Although Mycoplasma hyorhinis induces a similar disease in swine

Chronic arthritis of rabbits induced by mycoplasmas. III. Induction with nonviable mycoplasma arthritidis antigens

“…We previously suggested (7) that the pathogenesis of M arthritidis-induced arthritis of rabbits might be similar to that proposed by Cooke et a1 for experimental antigen-induced arthritis (8)(9)(10). Chronic antigen-induced arthritis results when an animal that has been preimmunized with an antigen in complete Freund's adjuvant is challenged intraarticularly with the same antigen in an aqueous medium (1 I).…”

“…We have shown that Mycoplasma arthritidis, which causes arthritis in rats (1,2) and mice (3,4), also induces arthritis in rabbits after intraarticular injection (5)(6)(7). Although the rabbit disease can last as long as 1 year, neither viable organisms nor mycoplasmal antigens appear to persist in joint tissues longer than a few weeks.…”

Mycoplasma pulmonis Arthritis in Mice: Microbiological and Immunological Features

“…IgG particles were detected in the synovial cells of chickens by an immunofluorescence technique when M. pulmonis was inoculated intraarticularly (11) or M. pulmonis periarticularly (26). Accordingly, this study demonstrated that IgGproducing cells and C3 were observed at a high frequency in the synovial membranes and perisynovial tissues over the entire period of the experiments, with concomitant presence of mycoplasmal particles in macrophages.…”

“…Intraarticular inoculation caused clinical and histopathological changes in the injected joints which were much more evident than those in the other joints. Washburn et al (26,27) reported the deposition of immunoglobulins, a complement and mycoplasma cells in synovial membranes in rabbits intraarticularly inoculated with M. pulmonis or M. arthritidis. Snick and Coulie (19) and Nemazee and Sato (17) observed the appearance of the rheumatoid factor (RF) or an RF-like substance (RFLS) in mice on infection with bacteria or viruses, and stimulation of RF production by protein antigens.…”

Mycoplasmas and arthritis.

“…Deposits containing immunoglobulin and complement were found in joint tissues, suggesting that immune complexes may participate in the chronic phase of mycoplasma induced arthritis in rabbits. [12][13][14] Transmission electron microscopy of articular cartilage in neonatal rats infected with M pulmonis revealed the presence of mycoplasmas within the matrix and lacunae. The mycoplasmas appeared to have a tropism for the chondrocytes and induced lysis of the chondrocytes and the cartilage matrix.…”