Immunopathological investigations during the course of arthritis induced in rats by Streptococcus agalactiae

Abstract

A large single intraperitoneal injection of sonicated cells of Streptococcus agalactiae O90R induced polyarthritis in Wistar rats. The arthritis reaction score was monitored according to redness, edema, severity and deformity of rat ankle and wrist joints. The inflammation of joints was confirmed by radiology and histology. Acute arthritis was initiated within 48 h and the chronic form continued for more than 30 days. Although serum immunoglobulin was elevated within 48 h, anti-streptococcal antibody was detected only at later times (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Arthus-type hypersensitivity reactions) and neither serum nor splenocytes of arthritic rats were able to transfer disease to susceptible, normal rats. From these observations and the finding of streptococcal antigen in joint macrophages (by immunogold labelling) we conclude that arthritis is related to persistent streptococcal fragments rather than to antibody or immune complexes.

Streptococcal Cell Wall Arthritis

“…The development of chronic arthritis, after systemic injection of an aqueous suspension of SCW PG‐PS fragments, appears to depend upon the capacity of the fragments (1) to deposit in joint tissues; (2) to persist in tissues, including the joints, for prolonged periods of time; and (3) to stimulate macrophage and T cell–dependent proinflammatory mechanisms in the joints (Abd et al, ; Allen et al, ; Anderle et al, ; Bristol et al, ; Case et al, ; Schwab and Smialowicz, ; Van Den Broek et al, , ; Wilder et al, ; Yocum et al, ; Yoshino et al, ). Arthritogencity of Group A SCW PG‐PS fragments is also strongly affected by their size distribution.…”

“…The SCW arthritis model is a prominent example of a group of bacterial cell wall-induced arthritides in rats. In addition to Group A SCW fragments, cell wall fragments from other types of streptococci (Abd et al, 1990), from lactobacilli (Lehman et al, 1983), and from a variety of enteric anaerobes also have arthritogenic potential (Severijnen et al, 1988(Severijnen et al, , 1990Stimpson et al, 1986). These observations have led to numerous studies attempting to define the characteristics of cell walls that render them arthritogenic.…”