Evaluation of preventive effect of <em>Brugia malayi</em> recombinant cystatin on mBSA-induced experimental arthritis

Abstract

Epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of the helminths derived immunomodulatory molecules. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of <em>Brugia malayi </em> recombinant cystatin (r<em>Bm</em>Cys) in methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA)-induced arthritis. <em>Mastomys coucha </em> rats were treated with 4 doses of r<em>Bm</em>Cys (intraperitoneal) in alum adjuvant (25 µg/dose/200 µL) in intervals of 15 days. Control rats received alum only. mBSA-arthritis induction was done 10 days after the last dose of r<em>Bm</em>Cys/alum. Rats were sacrificed when all the rats in mBSA group developed arthritis. Administration of r<em>Bm</em>Cys significantly (<em>P</em>=0.0005) protected rats from arthritis by reducing paw swelling and arthritic index. In r<em>Bm</em>Cys treated rats, histopathology of hind paw joints showed decreased synovitis, bone erosion, fibrosis and influx of inflammatory cells. This protective effect was found to be associated with significantly (<em>P </em> < 0.005) decreased levels of IFN-γ & TNF-α and increased levels of IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines. These results have shown that prior administration of r<em>Bm</em>Cys can benefit in rheumatoid arthritis prevention.