The Establishment Of An Animal Model Of Experimental Autoimmune Myositis And The Expression Of IL-6 In The Muscle

ObjectiveIn order to further investigate the underlying mechanisms in inflammatory myositis, an animal model of experimental autoimmune myositis (EAM) has been generated on guinea pigs. In addition, an very important factor, IL-6, has been explored in the model.MethodsAn animal model of experimental autoimmune myositis was produced in guinea-pigs by rabbit skeletal muscle myosin added to Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA), while guinea-pigs received an injection of pertussis toxin (before twice). It was observed that animals showed symptoms of myositis, the elevation in serum muscular enzymes and pathology of the skeletal muscles. The immunohitochemistry technique was used to detect the expression of IL-6 in the muscle tissue and the invasion of lymphocytes in the model.ResultsEAM induced in guinea-pigs was similar to human polymyositis in symptoms, the serum enzymes, pathology of the skeletal muscles and immunohistochemical changes. In the affected muscles tissue of EAM guinea-pigs, IL-6 was dramatically up-regulated when compared with that in the control group.ConclusionEAM induced in guinea-pigs could serves as a good model for human PM and gives a chance to understand the pathogenesis of the disease. IL-6 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PM.