Serum Protein Changes in Rats with Arthritis induced by Mycobacterial Adjuvant
Lowe, J.S.
Biochemical Pharmacology 13: 633-641
1964
ISSN/ISBN: 0006-2952 PMID: 14191870 DOI: 10.1016/0006-2952(64)90050-4
Accession: 025445978
Arthritis has been induced in rats by injecting a mixture of dead tubercle bacilli in liquid paraffin into the right hind-foot pad and resulting changes in the serum proteins have been studied. Throughout the arthritic condition no changes occurred in the level of total serum protein. However, immediately following the injection of adjuvant, the serum albumin fell and a pre-albumin band appeared in the starch gel electrophoretogram. The albumin level reached a minimum two days after the injection and then started to rise again; simultaneously the pre-albumin band disappeared. Ten days after the injection secondary arthritic lesions appeared in the ears, tail and fore and hind paws. These were accompanied by a striking fall in the level of serum albumin which remained low until the lesions began to regress naturally. Simultaneously profound changes occurred in the electrophoretogram. These included the appearance of pre-albumin, post-albumin and slow [alpha]2-globulin bands and a fall in the fast [alpha]1-globulin. By day fourteen these changes were even more pronounced and by day sixteen two further bands appeared[long dash]a second pre-albumin and a protein migrating between the origin and the slow [alpha]2-globulin. These last bands had only a transient existence they were not present in sera taken at day twenty. The changes in the electrophoresis pattern reverted to normal as the condition regressed. The adjuvant arthritis was accompanied by an elevated glycoprotein level in the [alpha]1- and [beta]-globulins. It has been shown that the majority of the changes in the serum proteins are associated with inflammation. The relationship between these serum changes and those seen in human arthritis is discussed.