[Study of the humoral immune suppression of recombinant human collagen type II peptide 250-270]

To investigate the modulation of rhC II 250-270 peptide on special humoral immune response in the course of oral administration.

ELISA was used to determine antigen-specific antibodies in mice sera. The frequency of anti-C II and anti-C II (250-270) antibody-forming spleen cells was measured by ELISPOT.

The level of C II- and C II (250-270)- specific IgG in serum from the mice fed with rhC II (250-270) were (0.82+/-0.02) and (0.84+/-0.04) respectively, and lower significantly than those of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) control group. The anti-C II (250-270) antibody responses were suppressed obviously (P<0.01). The frequency of antibody-forming cells in the spleen from rhC II (250-270)-fed mice were (158+/-9 counts/well) and (181+/-10 counts/well) respectively, and also were reduced significantly when compared with that in CIA control group (247+/-16 counts/well)(P<0.05).

Oral rhC II (250-270) could induce specific suppression of humoral responds in CIA. These findings together with a better understanding of the mechanisms of oral tolerance and regulation of humoral immune response in CIA, will help the development of innovative therapeutic intervention for rheumatoid arthritis.