All issues > Volume 47(7); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(7):779-788. Published online July 15, 2004.

Effect of Histone H1 on Collagen Induced Arthritis in Mice

Jae Ho JH Yang¹, Kyung Mi KM Shin¹, Dong Soo DS Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Dong Soo DS Kim ,Email: dskim6634@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

Objective : Besides the functions of histones in the nucleus of the cells, there is growing evidence that histones have many other extra-cellular or extra-nuclear functions, such as stabilizing axonemal microtubule of sea urchin sperm flagella. This microtule assembly function of the histone is similar to that of taxol, which has an effect of controlling joint inflammation. In this study, a possible suppressive effect of histones on a mouse collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) model was investigated.
Methods
: A DBA/1 mouse were injected intradermally with emulsified chicken type II collagen. Three weeks after immunization, histone H1 was injected intraperitoneally twice a week. Clinical incidences of arthritis and arthritis index were measured. Anti-collagen antibodies and stimulation index of the splenocytes of mice were measured. IL-10 and TNF-α in the supernatants of the cultured splenocytes were measured by ELISA. IL-10 and TNF-α in the supernatants of the cultured U937 cells stimulated with histone H1 were measured by ELISA. mRNA expression of IL-10 and TNF-α in the U937 cells stimulated with histone H1 were observed.
Results
: Histone H1 appears to be an effective suppressor of CIA in mice. When delivered intravenously, this suppressive effect of histone H1 was most effective compared to intraperitoneal or intradermal injections. The anti-collagen antibody level of the histone H1 treated group was significantly lower than that of the control group. A remarkable increase in the level of IL-10 was observed from the cultured supernatant of the splenocytes treated with histone H1. Also, an increase of IL-10 level was observed from the cultured supernatant of the U937 cells treated with histone H1.
Conclusion
: According to these results, histone H1 appears to have a suppressive effect on CIA. The mechanism of the suppressive effect of histone may be a stimulation of IL-10 production.

Keywords :Histones, Arthritis, Collagen induced, Interleukin-10, Tumor necrosis factor α, U937 cells