Testing a Novel Peptide-Infused Cream for Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis in DR4tg Mice

Alisha J. Moynahan, The University of Western Ontario

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and damage. Studies have shown that inducing immune tolerance towards RA-specific proteins/peptides in RA mouse models can reduce arthritis severity and pro-inflammatory responses. The objectives of this study were to determine if a novel peptide cream treatment could modify RA-specific immune responses and reduce joint swelling in a humanized mouse model expressing the HLA-DRB1*0401 allele (known as DR4tg mice), the strongest genetic risk-factor for RA. Hyaluronan-Phosphatidylethanolamine cream infused with synthetic peptides HomoCitJED and CitJED was applied to HomoCitJED-immunized DR4tg mice before or after arthritis induction. Knee joint swelling and T cell and B cell responses to HomoCitJED and CitJED were measured in this study, however there were no significant differences between peptide-infused cream treated mice and controls. Further optimization of the peptide-infused cream is required to successfully modify immune responses and treat arthritis in DR4tg mice.