Objective: To study the dynamic changes of Th1-type cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α in the serum of chicken type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice.
Methods: A total of 72 DBA1/J mice were randomly divided into control group (n=24) and model group (n=48), and each group was subgrouped into 4 groups (n=6 in control subgroup and n=12 in model subgroup) according to the time of taking the eyeball for blood and separating the serum under sterile condition (7, 14, 21 and 35 days after booster immunization). The dynamic changes of cytokines IFN-γ, IL2 and TNF-α in different periods were detected by flow cytometry.
Results: The level of IFN-γ in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control group on the 7 day and 14 day after booster immunization (P<0.05), and it began to decline on the 21 day and there were no significant differences between the model group and the control group on the 21 day and 35 day (P>0.05). The levels of IL-2 and TNF-α in the model group on the 7 day after booster immunization significantly increased as compared with those of the control group (P<0.05), however, on the 14, 21 and 35 day there were no significant differences between the model group and the control group (P>0.05).
Conclusion: CD4⁺; Th1 cytokines participate in the pathogenesis of CIA and their alterations at different stages of the disease have a relation to the development of arthritis.