The Rat Collagen-Induced Arthritis (CIA) model is a 28-day model carried out in Dark Agouti or Lewis rats using bovine or porcine type II collagen as an immunogen.
Rat CIA Total Hind Limb Volume vs. Time
Rat CIA Total Clinical Score vs. Time
Rat CIA Total Disease Burden
Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is a preclinical animal inflammation model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that is widely used to address questions of disease pathogenesis and to validate therapeutic targets. Collagen-induced arthritis models can be performed in mice or rats by immunization with heterologous type II collagen in adjuvant. Susceptibility to collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis is strongly associated with major histocompatibility complex class II genes, and the development of rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by a robust T-cell and B-cell inflammation response to type II collagen.
The chief pathological features of collagen-induced arthritis include a proliferative synovitis with infiltration of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells, pannus formation, cartilage degradation, erosion of bone, and fibrosis. As in human rheumatoid arthritis, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-1b (IL-1b) and IL-6 are increased in collagen-induced arthritis. Biological therapies designed to interfere with these mediators are active in these models.
Disease activity is assessed by measuring inflammation swelling in the affected joints (paw volume or thickness) over time. Treatments can be assessed in either prophylactic or therapeutic testing paradigms. Additional measures of disease activity include evaluation of IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Charles River typically measures all four paws for thickness and gives an average paw thickness for each animal at each time point. Animal body weights are typically taken 2 times per week.
For additional information on the Rat CIA model, please contact us at 1.877.CRIVER.1 or askcharlesriver@crl.com.