PREVENTION OF COLLAGEN INDUCED ARTHRITIS IN MICE BY TREATMENT WITH AN ANTIBODY DIRECTED AGAINST THE T CELL RECEPTOR αβ FRAMEWORK

Collagen induced arthritis (CIA) is an animal model of inflammatory polyarthritis. Type II collagen is the major matrix protein of hyaline cartilage. Susceptibility to CIA is linked to the Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II genes but the presence of T cells expressing specific variable beta (Vβ) chain of their T cell receptor (TCR) is also required. Pretreatment with the monoclonal antibody H57-597 directed against the TCR αβ framework prevented the onset of arthritis in the majority of animals. The depletion of the T cell population did not lead to any apparent health problems. These experiments demonstrate the important role of the αβ T cell and its receptors in the CIA model. Further, anti-TCR αβ antibodies may be of value in the therapy of autoreactive disorders.