Collagen arthritis--what can it teach us?

Collagen-induced arthritis is an arthritic disease that can be induced in rodents and primates. It is used widely as a model of disease processes and potential therapies. The immunology of collagen arthritis has some compelling parallels with human disease and these have been exploited recently in several novel ways to analyse the nature of autoreactivity against joint antigens and to test new therapies. Antibodies against lymphocyte surface markers, such as CD4, CD40L and MHC Class II, have been shown to suppress disease progression. Manipulation of cytokines, notably TNF-alpha, IL-1 and IL-2, has been extensively studied using the cytokines themselves, antibodies against cytokines and other antagonists with varied, but promising results. The search for antigen-specific immunosuppression has gained new impetus through manipulation of collagen arthritis by mucosal delivery of collagen to induce tolerance that suppresses disease. This review examines the salient features of collagen arthritis that are relevant to human disease and discusses the meaning and potential application of experimental therapies to the control of human arthritis.