Accart Gris, Nathalie, Dawson King, Janet, Kramer, Ina, Kolbinger, Frank and Beckmann, Nicolau (2016) NON-INVASIVE IMAGING DEMONSTRATES CLINICAL FEATURES OF THE PATHOLOGY IN A RAT ADJUVANT MODEL FOR ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS. European journal of histochemistry : EJH., 60 (4). p. 2667. ISSN 2038-8306

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common rheumatic diseases involving both inflammatory erosive osteopenia and bony overgrowth. When lesions occur in the spine, vertebrae may fuse. The most effective AS medication comprises biologic agents blocking TNF-α, which are best given early in disease when the inflammatory burden is greatest. Since response rates to TNF blockers are only 60%, there is a need for more effective therapies for this debilitating disease. An important phase of drug discovery comprises compound assessment in relevant animal models. Changes at the spine of small rodents due to challenge with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) recapitulate some features of AS. In view of preclinical compound testing and translational applications, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was applied to follow longitudinally in vivo, at the level of the rat spine, changes induced by CFA inoculation into the tail. Signals reflecting inflammation have been detected throughout the experimental period and peaked at day 27 after CFA. At day 14 the inflammatory response occurred along ligaments but it expanded to nearby soft tissues at later time points. From day 27 onwards inflammation was also detected within the bone, in areas where erosion occurred, and bone-like structures were formed. Post-mortem analyses at the end of the study including high resolution micro-CT and histology of the isolated spine confirmed the inflammation and bone remodeling observed in vivo.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	ankylosing spondylitis, imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, micro-CT, histology, bone remodeling
Date Deposited:	21 Nov 2017 00:45
Last Modified:	21 Nov 2017 00:45
URI:	https://oak.novartis.com/id/eprint/26968