The effect of treatment with interferon-gamma on type II collagen-induced arthritis.

We have investigated the effects of recombinant murine interferon-gamma (rIFN-γ) on type II collagen-induced arthritis (CA) in DBA/l mice. Therapeutic as well as prophylactic treatment with subcutaneous rIFN-γ, at 105 U/mouse six times a week, inhibited the development of CA without any obvious side effects. The accompanying suppression of anti-CII antibody responses may partly explain the inhibition of CA by rIFN-γ. The possible role of the anti-inflammatory effect of systemic IFN-γ in the inhibition of CA is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]