Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects multiple peripheral joints. It is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and is characterized by synovial hyperplasia, immune cell infiltration, cartilage destruction, and bone erosion. To gain insight into the etiology of the disease, a variety of animal models have been established. Twelve years ago George Kollias' laboratory generated a transgenic (Tg) mouse that over-expresses human TNF-alpha, and develops an erosive polyarthritis with many characteristics observed in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The phenotype of this mouse model validated the theory that TNF-alpha is at the apex of the pro-inflammatory cascade in rheumatoid arthritis, and foreshadowed the remarkable success of anti-TNF-alpha therapy that has transformed the effective management of this disease. As such, the TNF-Tg mice are very useful tools for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of the pathogenic process and evaluating the efficacy of novel therapeutic strategies for rheumatoid arthritis. In this review we (1) provide a brief summary of TNF-alpha biology and the role of this dominant cytokine in rheumatoid arthritis, (2) describe the various TNF-Tg models and their phenotypes, and (3) give examples of how this model has been used experimentally.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
