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Arthritis Research & Therapy
Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Apoptotic cell infusion treats ongoing collagen-induced arthritis, even in the presence of methotrexate, and is synergic with anti-TNF therapy

Authors: Francis Bonnefoy, Anna Daoui, Séverine Valmary-Degano, Eric Toussirot, Philippe Saas, Sylvain Perruche

Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Apoptotic cell-based therapies have been proposed to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intravenous (i.v.) apoptotic cell infusion in ongoing collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and the interaction of this therapy with other treatments used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including methotrexate (MTX) or anti-TNF therapy.

Methods

The effects of i.v. apoptotic cell infusion were evaluated in a CIA mouse model in DBA/1 mice immunized with bovine type II collagen. The number and functions of antigen-presenting cells (APC), regulatory CD4+ T cells (Treg), and circulating anti-collagen auto-antibodies were analyzed in CIA mice.

Results

Treatment of arthritic mice with i.v. apoptotic cell infusion significantly reduced the arthritis clinical score. This therapeutic approach modified T cell responses against the collagen auto-antigen with selective induction of collagen-specific Treg. In addition, we observed that APC from apoptotic-cell-treated animals were resistant to toll-like receptor ligand activation and favored ex vivo Treg induction, indicating APC reprogramming. Apoptotic cell injection-induced arthritis modulation was dependent on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, as neutralizing anti-TGF-β antibody prevented the effects of apoptotic cells. Methotrexate did not interfere, while anti-TNF therapy was synergic with apoptotic-cell-based therapy.

Conclusion

Overall, our data demonstrate that apoptotic-cell-based therapy is efficient in treating ongoing CIA, compatible with current RA treatments, and needs to be evaluated in humans in the treatment of RA.
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Metadata
Title
Apoptotic cell infusion treats ongoing collagen-induced arthritis, even in the presence of methotrexate, and is synergic with anti-TNF therapy
Authors
Francis Bonnefoy
Anna Daoui
Séverine Valmary-Degano
Eric Toussirot
Philippe Saas
Sylvain Perruche
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Arthritis Research & Therapy / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1478-6362
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-016-1084-0

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