EFFECTS OF ORAL D-PENICILLAMINE TREATMENT ON EXPERIMENTAL ARTHRITIS AND ASSOCIATED IMMUNE-RESPONSE IN RABBITS .1. EFFECTS ON HUMORAL PARAMETERS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 34  (6) , 1053-1061
Abstract
D-penicillamine given orally to rabbits at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight, administered daily for long periods commencing prior to and at the time of immunization, reduced the concentration of specific Ig[immunoglobulin]G antibodies directed against ovalbumin. This effect was not observed when treatment with the drug commenced after immunization and the onset of a mono-articular arthritis. The concentration of serum IgA rose abruptly after antigen was injected intra-articularly to induce the arthritis. This increase was not affected by treatment with D-penicillamine. The concentration of serum IgA decreased markedly during the chronic phase of the mono-articular arthritis, falling below the lower limit of the normal range. Treatment with D-penicillamine for at least 50 days restored the serum IgA concentration to the middle of the normal range. D-penicillamine treatment had no significant effect on the concentration of IgG, or IgM in serum either before or after the onset of a mono-articular arthritis.