Mouse CIA Cytokine Array

The molecular basis to autoimmune arthritis is unclear. Collagen Induced Arthritis (CIA) in mice, is a model that has many features that resemble Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), although it does not perfectly duplicate RA. The study of CIA has provided insight into relevant pathogenesis and has aided in the identification of potential therapeutic targets. In this study we used Mouse Cytokine Expression Arrays to examine gene expression levels in joints at early, peak and decline stages during disease in DBA/1 mice. The aim of the study was to identify candidate molecules that may be involved in the development and progression of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Keywords: Disease State Analysis 18 samples were analysed. 9 samples were from mice with CIA at early rising, peak and declining phases of the disease (3 mice at each time point). A further 9 samples were from normal joint tissue obtained from naïve DBA/1 mice at the same ages as the mice with CIA (also 3 mice each group). Prepared samples were hybridized to R&D Systems Mouse Cytokine Arrays. These arrays were spotted with murine cDNAs representing 514 immuno-modulatory factors including 46 chemokines and receptors, 20 proteases, 17 integrins and 8 house keeping genes.