A Novel Therapy of Murine Collagen-Induced Arthritis with Soluble T1/ST2

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by chronic inflammatory infiltration of the synovium, leading to eventual cartilage and bone destruction. Previously, we have reported that soluble T1/ST2 (sST2), a member of the IL-1R gene family, inhibits LPS-induced macrophage proinflammatory cytokine production. In this study, we report the therapeutic effect of sST2-Fc in the murine model of collagen-induced arthritis. A short term administration of sST2-Fc fusion protein significantly attenuated disease severity compared with controls treated with normal IgG. Histological examination revealed that while control IgG-treated mice developed severe cellular infiltration in the joints, synovial hyperplasia, and joint erosion, this pathology was profoundly reduced in sST2-Fc-treated animals. Treatment of sST2-Fc also down-regulated serum levels of IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-alpha. Spleen cells from the sST2-Fc-treated mice produced significantly less IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-12 compared with cells from the control mice when cultured with collagen in vitro. Finally, pretreatment with ST2-Fc markedly inhibited the ability of human monocytic THP1 cells to release TNF-alpha when cocultured with peripheral blood T cells from rheumatoid patients. Together these results demonstrate that sST2-Fc may provide a novel approach in treating chronic autoimmune conditions by inhibiting the release of proinflammatory cytokines.