| Could a glass of wine at dinner time be the next major | | | | mineral density associated with CIA. |
| arthritis breakthrough? | | | | "The major surprise in this study was the outstanding |
| Possibly... according to a recent Swedish study. A diet | | | | effect of ethanol on saving cartilage and bone, |
| of 10% ethanol had a protective effect on mice that | | | | suggesting that apart from regulation of inflammatory |
| would otherwise have developed collagen-induced | | | | mediators, matrix metalloproteinases (i.e., tissue |
| arthritis (CIA), Swedish researchers report in | | | | destroying enzymes) might be a direct target for |
| Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. | | | | ethanol," commented Dr. Tarkowski. |
| CIA is often used as an animal model of human | | | | Dr. Tarkowski cautions, "This dose of ethanol was |
| rheumatoid arthritis (RA.) | | | | chosen for mice with an exact knowledge regarding |
| Andrej Tarkowski, MD, the senior author and a faculty | | | | the toxicity. This was further confirmed by intact liver |
| member in the department of rheumatology and | | | | function at the end of experiments. In contrast, |
| inflammation research, Goteborg University, in Sweden, | | | | exchanging water for 10% ethanol in humans |
| stated that the primary finding was that, in male mice, | | | | eventually will lead to liver disease (cirrhosis). Thus, the |
| long term consumption of 10% ethanol delayed the | | | | optimal dose of ethanol in the human setting to prevent |
| onset and progression of CIA. | | | | delay RA is presently unknown. For practical purposes, |
| The underlying mechanism appears to be a reduction | | | | one could speculate on the use of doses of ethanol |
| in inflammation due to decreased NF-kB activation (a | | | | similar to those sometimes suggested for prevention |
| primary inflammatory pathway) caused by | | | | of cardiovascular diseases--i.e., something in the range |
| upregulation- or increased production -of testosterone | | | | of 1 to 2 glasses of wine per day," he suggested. |
| secretion. | | | | "We are presently analyzing whether female mice with |
| The research team fused a CIA model in mice by | | | | arthritis have the same effect from ethanol. |
| immunizing male DBA/1 mice with collagen type II (CII). | | | | The investigators also compared castrated to intact |
| To determine whether drinking ethanol has any impact | | | | male mice and found that mice drinking 10% ethanol |
| on the development of CIA, the mice were provided | | | | had significantly elevated levels of testosterone and |
| with either 10% ethanol or water alone to drink. Mice | | | | decreased levels of IGF1 and cortisol. "These |
| were sacrificed after 5 to 6 weeks. All four paws | | | | observations, considered together with the cellular |
| from DBA/1 mice were sectioned, stained, and | | | | anti-inflammatory properties of testosterone that lead |
| examined for inflammation of the joint including | | | | to a decrease of NF-kB activation, point to |
| damage to the joint lining and erosion of bone and | | | | testosterone as a potential link mediating the |
| cartilage. | | | | anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol." |
| The investigators report that development of arthritis | | | | So... what are the implications for patients with RA? |
| due to inflammation was markedly reduced in the | | | | The first is that perhaps, a prescription of a glass or |
| ethanol-drinking mice. Ethanol had no such effect on | | | | two of wine a day is not necessarily bad. |
| mice with arthritis induced by injection with a mixture of | | | | However, there are cautions. The first is that patients |
| four monoclonal anti-CII antibodies. "These data | | | | who are taking methotrexate need to absolutely limit |
| suggest that ethanol affects the start or initiation rather | | | | their consumption of alcoholic beverages because of |
| than the perpetuation of immune responsiveness | | | | the danger of developing cirrhosis. Second, patients |
| during CIA," mentioned the researchers. | | | | taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are at |
| Joints from the water-drinking mice developed | | | | increased risk for developing stomach ulcers and |
| frequent bone and cartilage erosions. Those from the | | | | alcohol increases that risk. |
| ethanol-drinking mice were "histologically ...intact," | | | | (Jonsson I-M, Verdrengh M, Brissiert M, et al. Ethanol |
| meaning no significant damage occurred. In addition, | | | | prevents development of destructive arthritis. PNAS. |
| ethanol prevented the arthritis-induced loss of bone | | | | |