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Calcitonin and glucocorticoids – a novel approach to anti‐inflammatory co‐therapy
Author(s) -
AlKashi Adam,
Perretti Mauro,
Gilligan James,
Mehta Nozer
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.422.1
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , resorption , bone resorption , calcitonin , adverse effect , osteoporosis , endocrinology , inflammation , arthritis , bone remodeling
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease characterised by progressive joint destruction and extra‐articular manifestations. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are important anti‐inflammatory agents yet have serious adverse effects, including osteoporosis via enhanced bone resorption. Calcitonin (CT), on the other hand, inhibits bone resorption. Here we investigate the combination of sub‐therapeutic GC and calcitonin (CT) in rat collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA), a model of RA. Rats (female Lewis, 160g) immunised i.d. with bovine collagen‐II and FCA adjuvant on day 0, develop hind paw swelling from day 11. Daily treatments were given i.p. from day 11. Body weight, paw volume and clinical score were recorded up to day 18, when blood and paws were taken for analysis. GC 30 μg/kg reduced swelling and clinical scores by 80% (n=25, P<0.01). CT 1.0 μg/kg alone did not inhibit CIA, but combined with sub‐therapeutic 7.5 ug/kg GC, gave efficacy comparable to the four‐fold higher GC dose. Co‐therapy also reduced bone resorption marker CTX‐I (54%; n=14 p<0.05), and neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL5 (64%; n=14 p<0.05). Steroid dose reduction together with the osteoprotection affords a promising new outlook for the management of chronic inflammatory diseases.