Studies on adjuvant-induced polyarthritis in rats. HI. The effect of immunosuppressive agents on arthritis and tuberculin hyper-sensitivlty
Ward, J.R.; Cloud, R.S.; Krawitt, E.L.; Jones, R.S.
Arthritis and Rheumatism 7(6): 654-661
1964
ISSN/ISBN: 2326-5191 Accession: 025552975
Methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine and total body x-irradiation, given to rats injected with mycobacterial adjuvant, suppressed the development of polyarthritis without altering hypersensitivity to old tuberculin. Mechlorethamine hydrochloride was without effect. This dissociation of arthritis and tuberculin hypersensitivity suggests that sensitization to tuberculoprotein plays no direct role in producing the arthritis. Methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine also suppressed the early inflammation at the site of adjuvant injection indicating an anti-inflammatory action which is independent of their effects on immunologic mechanisms.