Gallium nitrate ameliorates type II collagen-induced arthritis in mice

•The therapeutic effects of gallium nitrate on collagen-induced arthritis in the mice were evaluated.•Gallium nitrate inhibits the increase of CD4+ T cell populations and IgG2a autoantibody production.•Gallium nitrate regulates the production of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ), and MMP2 and MMP9.•Gallium nitrate suppresses the NF-κB signaling pathway.•Gallium nitrate ameliorates the progression of collagen-induced arthritis in the mice.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease. Gallium nitrate has been reported to reserve immunosuppressive activities. Therefore, we assessed the therapeutic effects of gallium nitrate in the mouse model of developed type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). CIA was induced by bovine type II collagen with Complete Freund's adjuvant. CIA mice were intraperitoneally treated from day 36 to day 49 after immunization with 3.5 mg/kg/day, 7 mg/kg/day gallium nitrate or vehicle. Gallium nitrate ameliorated the progression of mice with CIA. The clinical symptoms of collagen-induced arthritis did not progress after treatment with gallium nitrate. Gallium nitrate inhibited the increase of CD4+ T cell populations (p < 0.05) and also inhibited the type II collagen-specific IgG2a-isotype autoantibodies (p < 0.05). Gallium nitrate reduced the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ (p < 0.05) and the mRNA expression levels of these cytokine and MMPs (MMP2 and MMP9) in joint tissues. Western blotting of members of the NF-κB signaling pathway revealed that gallium nitrate inhibits the activation of NF-κB by blocking IκB degradation. These data suggest that gallium nitrate is a potential therapeutic agent for autoimmune inflammatory arthritis through its inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, and these results may help to elucidate gallium nitrate-mediated mechanisms of immunosuppression in patients with RA.