The model of arthritis induced by superantigen in mice.

Subcutaneous injection of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) produced by Staphylococcus aureus, caused severe arthritis in DBA/1J mice which had been previously immunized with bovine type II collagen. The severity of this arthritis was dose dependent and prolonged joint inflammation with erosion of bone was observed. Anti- type II collage antibodies were detected in the serum of arthritic mice. Effector T cells against type II collagen were also detected by means of delayed type hypersensitivity in the skin. Moreover, a significant decrease in the ratio between T cells and B cells and an increase in the ratio between CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells was observed in spleen cells from arthritic mice. Prednisolone suppresses the induction and development of clinical signs of arthritis in mice. This evidence suggests that this experimental arthritis model may provide a means to examine the role of superantigens and the efficacy of pharmacological agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.