ANTIBODY-RESPONSE TO STREPTOCOCCAL CELL-WALL ANTIGENS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPERIMENTAL ARTHRITIS IN RATS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (3) , 450-457
Abstract
The antibody response to group A streptococcal cell wall components was measured in rats during the development of chronic, remittent experimental arthritis. The arthritis was induced by a single i.p. injection of an aqueous group A streptococcal cell wall fragment suspension and antibodies were measured by a radioactive antigen-binding assay. Antibodies in serum against both peptidoglycan and A polysaccharide reached maximum levels at 1 or 2 wk and declined to preimmunization levels by day 63. The kinetics and magnitude of the antibody responses were similar in neonatally thymectomized and non-thymectomized rats. A relationship between chronic joint lesions and serum anti-peptidoglycan concentration was indicated, since all rats which produced high antibody levels developed severe chronic arthritis. Of the rats 46% which produced very low antibody levels also developed moderate to severe arthritis. There was no correlation between anti-A polysaccharide antibodies and joint disease, although this antibody''s concentration was 10- to 100-fold greater than the anti-peptidoglycan. Evidently antibody can be a component in the pathogenesis of this experimental arthritis model, but its role requires further elucidation.