Polymerized-Type I Collagen Induces Upregulation of Foxp3-Expressing CD4 Regulatory T Cells and Downregulation of IL-17-Producing CD4 + T Cells (Th17)‎ Cells in Collagen-Induced Arthritis

Abstract EN

Previous studies showed that polymerized-type I collagen (polymerized collagen) exhibits potent immunoregulatory properties.

This work evaluated the effect of intramuscular administration of polymerized collagen in early and established collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice and analyzed changes in Th subsets following therapy.

Incidence of CIA was of 100% in mice challenged with type II collagen.

Clinimorphometric analysis showed a downregulation of inflammation after administration of all treatments (P<0.05).

Histological analysis showed that the CIA-mice group had extensive bone erosion, pannus and severe focal inflammatory infiltrates.

In contrast, there was a remarkable reduction in the severity of arthritis in mice under polymerized collagen, methotrexate or methotrexate/polymerized collagen treatment.

Polymerized Collagen but not methotrexate induced tissue joint regeneration.

Polymerized Collagen and methotrexate/polymerized collagen but not methotrexate alone induces downregulation of CD4+/IL17A+ T cells and upregulation of Tregs and CD4+/IFN-γ+ T cells.

Thus, Polymerized Collagen could be an effective therapeutic agent in early and established rheumatoid arthritis by exerting downregulation of autoimmune inflammation.