Effects of Oral Enzymes in Collagen II Induced Arthritis in Mice
Emancipator S. N.,1 Chintalacharuvu S. R.,1
Urankar Nagy N.,1 Petersilge C.,2 Stauder G.3
Effects of Oral Enzymes in Collagen II Induced Arthritis in Mice.
Int. J. Immunotherapy 1997, Vol. XIII, No. 3/4, pp.
67-74 - ISSN 0255-9625 SO 112 (3-11-1) (19-04-2)
1Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland,
OH, USA. 2Departments of Pathology and Radiology, Case Western
Reserve University. Cleveland, OH, USA. 3Clinical Research, MUCOS
Pharma GmbH, Geretsried, Germany.
SummaryThree groups of randomly selected mice were immunized and
boosted with Type II collagen; age-matched nonimmunized controls
were maintained. Beginning on day 28, groups were given 120 mg/kg
oral Phlogenzym® twice daily, 40 mg/kg oral ibuprofen
twice daily, or no therapy. Swelling of the footpads, measured with
a tensioning caliper, generally appeared on day 21, and was
identical in the three immunized groups until day 31; subsequently,
mice given Phlogenzym® or ibuprofen had significantly
less swelling than the untreated mice, with no difference between
the two therapies. At sacrifice, there was severe joint degeneration
in the untreated groups at 42 and 49 days, with ankylosis in 3 of 8
untreated mice examined at 49 days. Joint degeneration was moderate
at day 42 and moderate to severe at day 49 in the ibuprofen-treated
mice, but mild at day 42 and generally mild at day 49 in Phlogenzym®-treated
mice (chi-squared = 5.8, p<0.05). Computer morphometry revealed an
average cartilage thickness of 720 mm in normals, 630 mm in
Phlogenzym®-treated diseased mice, 380 mm in
ibuprofen-treated diseased mice, and 290 mm in untreated diseased
mice (F = 9.8, p<0.01). Radiographic scores correlated with the
pathologic scores.
We conclude that Phlogenzym® protects articular cartilage
significantly better than ibuprofen in this murine model of
rheumatoid arthritis, despite equal anti-inflammatory potency.