Evaluation of preventive effect of Brugia malayi recombinant cystatin on mBSA-induced experimental arthritis

Epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of the helminths derived immunomodulatory molecules. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of Brugia malayi recombinant cystatin (rBmCys) in methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA)-induced arthritis. Mastomys coucha rats were treated with 4 doses of rBmCys (intraperitoneal) in alum adjuvant (25 mu g/dose/200 mu L) in intervals of 15 days. Control rats received alum only. mBSA-arthritis induction was done 10 days after the last dose of rBmCys/alum. Rats were sacrificed when all the rats in mBSA group developed arthritis. Administration of rBmCys significantly (P=0.0005) protected rats from arthritis by reducing paw swelling and arthritic index. In rBmCys treated rats, histopathology of hind paw joints showed decreased synovitis, bone erosion, fibrosis and influx of inflammatory cells. This protective effect was found to be associated with significantly (P<0.005) decreased levels of IFN-gamma & TNF-alpha and increased levels of IL-4 and IL-10 cytokines. These results have shown that prior administration of rBmCys can benefit in rheumatoid arthritis prevention.