Objective. To investigate the anti-arthritic effect of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) in two experimental models of arthritis.Methods. Recombinant IRAP was administered daily to mice with type I1 collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) or with antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) provoked by methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA). Disease incidence and severity were assessed by a clinical index and histologic features. Serum antibody to type I1 collagen, spleen cell proliferation to mBSA, and anti-IRAP antibodies were measured as indices of immune function.Results. IRAP reduced the incidence and delayed the onset of CIA and suppressed the antibody response to type I1 collagen. In contrast, IRAP did not affect the pathogenesis of AIA and had no effect on either humoral or cellular immune responses to mBSA in arthritic mice.Conclusion. These observations suggest that interleukin-1 may play a prominent role in the development of some, but not all, forms of arthritis.Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is present in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (1-3). In approximately 40% of joint fluids from patients with RA, osteoarthritis, and miscellaneous connective tis-

We examined the effect of interleukin-1 (IL-1) administration on a mild and transient inflammatory response in the knees of mice injected intraarticularly with methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA). Injection of mBSA on day 0 into nonsensitized mice caused a weak inflammatory response confined to the infrapatellar fat pads and involved infiltration by mononuclear cells, neutrophils, and eosinophils. The response developed between days 4 and 7 and resolved by day 28. No erosion of cartilage or subchondral bone was seen. In contrast, mBSA-treated mice injected with recombinant human IL-lP subcutaneously in the ipsilateral footpad on days 0-3 developed a severe monarticular arthritis in the antigen-injected knee. Pannus developed, extending over the articular surfaces, and extensive erosion of cartilage and subchondral bone occurred. Multinucleated giant cells, together with fibrin-like material, were observed at sites of active bone erosion and debris, and large numbers of neutrophils were seen in the joint space. These pathologic features represent a new arthritis model in which IL-1 profoundly augments a weak inflammatory response and induces acute erosive joint

Vinylidenebisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester (1) and diazo ketones 7a-1 in ether at 22 degrees C yield pyrazoline bisphosphonate tetraethyl esters 8a-1 in moderate to good yield. These compounds were evaluated in animal models of arthritis: rat adjuvant-induced polyarthritis (AIP) and murine antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) and a murine model of chronic inflammation, the delayed type hypersensitivity granuloma reaction (DTH-GRA). (5-Benzoyl-2,4-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-ylidene)-bisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester (8a), and [5-(3-fluorobenzoyl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-pyraxol-3-ylidene]- bisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester (8d) significantly inhibited the arthritis models, AIP (15 mg/kg) and AIA (25 mg/kg), as well as the DTH-GRA (25 mg/kg). Conversion of 8a to the corresponding bisphosphonic acid, 10a, resulted in loss of activity. Compounds with alkyl substituents on the pyrazoline nitrogen, 9a-d, were inactive in the DTH-GRA. These results show that 8a and 8d have novel antiinflammatory activity and are capable of inhibiting chronic arthritis and inflammation in animals. Such compounds might be useful in man for treating chronic tissue injury associated with arthropathies such as inflammatory joint disease as well as other chronic inflammatory diseases.

A study of the decomposition of the pyrazoline bisphosphonate ester 2 identified 3 as the sole bisphosphonate component. Evaluation in a delayed-type hypersensitivity granuloma model of chronic inflammation in mice (DTH-GRA) showed 3 to be a potent inhibitor of granuloma formation (sc, 10 mg/kg, 45%), but in a murine model of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA), no significant inhibition was observed. As a result, new ketonic bisphosphonate tetraethyl esters were synthesized from vinylidenebisphosphonic acid tetraethyl ester 4 and activated carbonyl compounds in 13-84% yield. 6 significantly inhibited the pathology of both the DTH-GRA (sc, 25 mg/kg, 45%) and AIA models (sc, 25 mg/kg, 55%). Other compounds in the series were not as potent. Our results show that bisphosphonate ester 6 can inhibit the chronic inflammatory response associated with cutaneous granuloma formation and erosive arthritis.

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