Applicability of a Modified Rat Model of Acute Arthritis for Long-Term Testing of Drug Delivery Systems

Episodes of inflammation and pain are predominant features of arthritic joint diseases. Drug delivery systems (DDS) could reduce inflammation and pain long-term without chances of infection upon multiple injections. To allow for long-term evaluation of DDS, we modified a previously published acute arthritis model by extending follow-up periods between flare-ups. Unilateral synovial inflammation of the knee was induced by intra-articular injection of streptococcal cell wall peptidoglycan polysaccharide (PGPS), and flare-ups were induced by intravenous PGPS injections every 4 weeks for a total duration of 84 days. In PGPS-reactivated animals, joint swelling, pain behavior, post mortem synovitis, and osteophyte formation were notable features. Hepatitis, splenitis and inflammation of non-primed joints were observed as systemic side effects. To test the applicability of the modified arthritis model for long-term testing of DDS, the duration of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of a corticosteroid released from two different polymer-based platforms was evaluated. The current modified arthritis model has good applicability for testing of DDS for a prolonged period of time. Furthermore, the novel autoregulatory polyesteramide (PEA) microsphere platform releasing triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) was benchmarked against poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and reduced joint swelling and pain behavior more potently compared to TAA-loaded PLGA microspheres.

Discovery of glycerol phosphate modification on streptococcal rhamnose polysaccharides

Cell wall glycopolymers on the surface of Gram-positive bacteria are fundamental to bacterial physiology and infection biology. These structures have also gained interest as vaccine antigens, in particular for the human pathogens Group AStreptococcus(GAS) andStreptococcus mutans. Streptococcal cell wall glycopolymers are considered to be functional homologues of wall teichoic acids but surprisingly lack the biologically-relevant and characteristic anionic charge. Here we identifygacH, a gene of unknown function in the GAS Group A Carbohydrate (GAC) biosynthetic cluster, in two independent transposon library screens for its ability to confer resistance to zinc and susceptibility to the bactericidal enzyme human group IIA secreted phospholipase A2. To understand the underlying mechanism of these phenotypes, we determined the structure of the extracellular domain of GacH and discover that it represents a new family of glycerol phosphate (GroP) transferases. Importantly, we demonstrate the presence of GroP in both the GAC and the homologous SerotypecCarbohydrate (SCC) fromS. mutans,which is conferred bygacHandsccHproducts, respectively. NMR analysis of GAC released from cell wall by non-destructive methods reveals that approximately 30% of the GAC GlcNAc side-chains are modified by GroP at the C6 hydroxyl group. This previously unrecognized structural modification impacts host-pathogen interaction and has implications for vaccine design.Graphical abstract

Abstract 3: Apolipoprotein A-I Inhibits Streptococcal Cell Wall-Induced Arthritis in the Rat in an ABCA1-dependent Manner

Introduction. Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by joint inflammation and destruction, reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, and increased cardiovascular risk. Objective To determine if apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, the main HDL apolipoprotein, prevents joint inflammation in arthritis. Methods and Results In vivo: Arthritis was induced in female Lewis rats with a single 15 mg/kg intraperitoneal streptococcal cell wall peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (PG-PS) injection and quantified as a combined forepaw and hindpaw inflammation score. Arthritis progressed from an initial, acute phase of joint inflammation during the first 4 days post-PG-PS administration to remission by day 8, followed by chronic joint inflammation up to sacrifice at day 21. Two intravenous infusions of lipid-free apoA-I (8 mg/kg) 24 h pre- and 24 h post-PG-PS injection reduced the acute and chronic joint inflammation by 63±9% at day 3 and by 61±8% at day 21. Infusion of apoA-I at days 7, 9 and 11 post-PG-PS injection reduced the chronic response by 43±11% at day 21. ApoA-I infusions at 24 h prior to and at days 1, 7, 9, 11 post-PG-PS injection reduced joint inflammation by 61±5% at day 3 and by 90±5% at day 21 (p<0.05 for all vs saline infusion). These beneficial effects of apoA-I were accompanied by a reduced inflammatory white blood cell count, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in synovial fluid, and reduced macrophage accumulation, toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and inflammatory cytokine expression in synovial tissue. In vitro: Human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDMs) were pre-incubated with lipid-free apoA-I, then stimulated with PG-PS (20 μg/mL). Pre-incubation with apoA-I inhibited PG-PS-induced TLR2 and MyD88, a TLR2 adapter protein, expression. Nuclear factor-κB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production were also attenuated. These anti-inflammatory effects of apoA-I were abolished in HMDMs transfected with ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) siRNA. Conclusions These findings establish that apoA-I attenuates PG-PS induced arthritis in the rat. These effects may involve ABCA-1 and inhibition of TLR2 expression and activation.